Massachusetts Sports Betting Rules to Expect When Online Betting Goes Live
Legal online Massachusetts sports betting is less than a month away, Bay State bettors.
In order to prepare for Massachusetts' upcoming launch, we've gathered the MA sports betting rules for bettors to be aware of when betting goes live in early March.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Rules
Commissioners from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission met on Tuesday to clarify language from the Massachusetts Sports Betting Catalog. All commissioners came to an agreement on the regulations set in place and will have an executive session soon.
Although sports betting rules tend to vary by state, the Massachusetts sports betting market is among the strictest in the U.S.
Here are the legal and illegal betting markets in Massachusetts:
| Betting Markets | Legal? |
|---|---|
| Pro Sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, NHL, WNBA, UFC, tennis, golf, rugby, cricket, etc.) | Yes |
| College Sports | Yes (betting on MA state teams is prohibited) |
| Olympics or International Sporting Events | No |
| Esports | Yes |
| Horse Racing | Yes |
| High School and Youth Sports | No |
| Sports League Drafts | Yes (approved leagues only) |
| Awards Events (Emmys, Oscars, etc.) | Yes |
| Russian or Belarusian Sports | No |
There is one instance where bettors will be able to place wagers on Massachusetts college teams. Bill H.5164 (lines 142-147) states that a bet can be placed on a MA college sports team if they are participating in a tournament.
For example, if the Boston College Eagles are announced as a qualified team on Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament, state bettors can make future bet on the Eagles as long as a legal operator provides the option to place wagers via its platforms.
Keep in mind that Massachusetts sports betting rules are subject to change.
Age Regulations
- 18+ for horse racing and lottery contests
- 21+ to place sports bets and participate in DFS contests
Bet Types Available
Bill H.5164 lists 14 bet types that are available for bettors in person and for online betting when it launches:
- Exchange Wagering
- Single-Game Bets
- In-Game Wagering
- In-Play Bets
- Moneylines
- Over-Unders
- Pari-Mutual Wagering
- Parlays
- Point Spreads
- Pools
- Prop Bets
- Single-Game
- Straight Bets
- Teasers
On average, most legal sports betting states offer a similar amount of bet types with the common exception being in-game betting on college athletes and state college teams.
DFS and Social Casino Options in MA
- Boom Fantasy
- Chuma Social Casino
- DraftKings Fantasy
- FanDuel Fantasy
- Funzpoints
- LuckyLand Slots
- PrizePicks
- Pulsz Social Casino
- WOW Vegas
Now that you know which MA sports betting rules set in place, we encourage you to read our 2023 futures odds so you can place strategic and informed bets by the time March Madness rolls around.
The Massachusetts online sports betting launch will arguably be the fifth-most significant launch in the U.S. and second one in 2023. Ohio went live with in-person and online sports betting on Jan. 1.
To stay informed on the status of sports betting in other states, read our 2023 sports betting legalization tracker.
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