At its latest open meeting, held on July 01, 2024, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) considered the operations certificate for the official launch of Bally Bet. Commissioners voted unanimously to grant the Category 3 permit, and, as a result, the sports wagering operator goes live in the Bay State today, at 11 a.m. local time.
The sports betting brand will join the group of six other legal companies operating in Massachusetts, including BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Betting & Gaming, and FanDuel. Earlier this year, WynnBet and Betr ceased operating in the Massachusetts market.
Sports betting enthusiasts can also place wagers at the state’s three retail locations, including Plainridge Park Casino, MGM Springfield, and Encore Boston Harbor. However, sports betting’s popularity at land-based locations has waned, with less than 2% of bets placed there.
Elsewhere, Bally Bet operates in Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, New York, Arizona, Ohio, and Virginia. A launch in Rhode Island is also upcoming.
MGC’s Interim Chair, Jordan Maynard congratulated the company on its launch, appreciating the broader variety of legal betting options available in the state.
Likewise, Bally Bet’s chief operating officer, Bret Calapp expressed his gratitude for the cooperation on behalf of the commission during the licensing process. He further commented on the company’s excitement “to go live in Massachusetts, a state with such a rich sports history, a state where sports is part of the fabric of the community.”
Originally, the launch date was scheduled for June 27, but due to “one outstanding issue” it was postponed, as reported by Jordan Maynard.
Although Bally Bet received its operating license for Massachusetts almost a year and a half ago, the company chose not to launch its platform back then. This January the sportsbook paid a license renewal fee of $1 million.
Massachusetts sports betting fans can expect a variety of bonus and promotional offers, a broad spectrum of betting markets, contests, and a unique VIP Program.
DraftKings Currently Dominates the Massachusetts Market
The MGC released the May 2024 Casino and Sports Wagering Revenue on June 17. The state’s three land-based casinos reported a combined Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of $97.99 million.
The most recent data from the gambling authority also points to $587.26 million in sports bets placed through the state’s licensed mobile/online operators, which generated approximately $57.03 million in taxable sports wagering revenue. DraftKings emerged on top of all operators, with a monthly handle of $299,526,304.25, reported in May 2024.
Since the official start of retail sports betting in Massachusetts on January 31, 2023, and the ensuing launch of remote sportsbooks on March 10, 2023, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has collected nearly $149.18 million in total taxes, as reported by the gambling authority.
