Massachusetts Sports Betting: Fanatics Sportsbook License Approved

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday finally approved Fanatics' digital sports betting license after two weeks of discussions.

The approval paves the way for Fanatics to release its sportsbook offering in Massachusetts when legal online sports betting goes live, which is currently expected in March.

The delay to approve Fanatics' online sports betting license was due to concerns about the company's sports betting marketing plans. Fanatics is the final of the five operators that applied for Category 3 mobile licenses to be approved.

The four other sportsbooks that have been approved for Category 3 sports betting licenses in the state are Barstool, BetMGM, Caesars, and WynnBET. The commission received 29 total applicants for the 2023 sports betting launch.

Fanatics announced on Thursday that it would open its retail presence at FedExField in Maryland later this month. Fanatics is now officially licensed in three states — Maryland, Ohio, and Massachusetts.

The next step for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is to approve its bet menu, which it will finalize and vote on at its Friday, Jan. 20 meeting. The bet menu appears to feature all of the typical wager types seen in live online sports betting states like straight bets, moneyline bets, prop bets, and more.

Massachusetts' law does allow for there to be betting on professional and college sports, with one notable exception: local college teams. However, Bay State bettors will be able to bet on teams like Boston College men's basketball if they play in major tournaments, like the NCAA Tournament.

Massachusetts Sports Betting Background

Massachusetts' in-person sports betting launch date is set for Jan. 31.

While an online sports betting go-live date has yet to be been announced, all expectations are that mobile wagering will launch before the NCAA March Madness tournaments.

Massachusetts is set to become the second state to launch legal sports betting in 2023. Ohio went live with online and in-person sports betting on Jan. 1. Maryland launched online sports betting in late November.

Massachusetts has higher-than-average household incomes and education levels, both factors that positively correlate with sports betting interest. That, plus some of the nation’s most iconic and beloved professional sports teams, creates one of the most coveted potential U.S. markets.