Massachusetts Operators Face Delay in Approval Until Late January
Revamped Take:
Looks like the wait's on for Massachusetts' top sports betting platforms, DraftKings and FanDuel. The state gaming commission announced recently that they won't issue final decisions on applications until January 19 and 20, delaying their entry into the Bay State's gambling market by nearly a month.
The commission has set a packed calendar for application review hearings, with DraftKings, FanDuel, and four other operators vying for Category 3 stand-alone digital licenses. Currently, these two titans claim over 70% of the market share in legal US wagering jurisdictions.
Missed the first wave? Fear not, as the MGC granted initial approval this month to three mobile operators tethered to casinos - BetMGM (MGM Springfield), Caesars Sportsbook (Encore Boston Harbor), and WynnBET (Encore Boston Harbor) - to go live in 2023. The commission will assess applications for Barstool Sportsbook (Plainridge Park) and BetFanatics (Plainridge Park) on January 3 and 4, respectively.
Interested parties can share their thoughts at an open hearing scheduled for January 3. The MGC is open to awarding up to seven such licenses, but only six companies applied: Bally Bet, Betr, Betway, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet.
The MGC has revealed some details about the application review process, with each operator receiving 30 minutes to present their business and platform, followed by a section-by-section review. The hearing schedule is set as follows:
- January 6: Bally's Interactive
- January 9: FanDuel
- January 10: Betr
- January 11: DraftKings
- January 13: Betway
- January 17: PointsBet
From there, expect approval announcements on January 19 and 20.
Massachusetts lawmakers greenlit sports wagering back in August, with the first quarter of 2023 initially set as the target for launch. The MGC voted last week to kick off retail wagering January 31 and hinted at early March as the digital platforms' debut.
Valuable Morsels:
- 15 sportsbook licenses are up for grabs in Massachusetts, with over 40 operators gazing to join the fray
- While several operators have secured preliminary approval, the majority are still in the vetting process and awaiting final affirmations
- The MGC has taken a firm stance on unlicensed operators, issuing cease and desist orders to BetOnline and SportsBetting.ag for illegal operation in the state.
Sports-betting enthusiasts in Massachusetts are eagerly awaiting the launch of platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel, which claim over 70% of the market share in legal US wagering jurisdictions. Their final decisions regarding applications will be announced on January 19 and 20.
Endless opportunities in sports betting are on the horizon as DraftKings, FanDuel, and four other operators vie for Category 3 stand-alone digital licenses in Massachusetts, with the MGC set to review their applications in the coming weeks.
