Massachusetts Sports Betting: Best MA Sportsbooks

Using Mobile Sports Betting Apps in Massachusetts

One of the top priorities for Massachusetts sports bettors should be learning the ins and outs of mobile sports betting in the Bay State. Platforms like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM offer enticing combinations of convenience and value, with massive sign-up promos available to new users, particularly those who register as quickly as possible, as the best sign-up promos are almost always available in the weeks immediately before and after a state legalizes sports betting. While mobile sports betting is most commonly conducted via apps, virtually every mobile sportsbook available in Massachusetts features a versatile platform that can be accessed on a phone, computer, tablet, or any other device with web-browsing capabilities. Additionally, mobile sportsbooks are known for their diverse, resource-heavy betting offerings, with both traditional and live wagers available almost universally. Perspective users should note that a Category 3 betting license is required for legal sportsbooks in Massachusetts, which is different than the Category 1 license required of in-person sportsbooks, and will result in different options for mobile sports bettors than those in search of retail betting establishments.

In-person Sports Betting in Massachusetts

Having rolled out on January 31st, 2023, in-person/retail sports betting was the first legal option available in the Bay State, with a lengthy list of casinos now offering sports wagering services across Massachusetts. Even bettors who plan to conduct their wagering via mobile apps will be interested in researching MA's retail sports betting operators, as the Massachusetts Gaming Commision can award “tethered” mobile sports betting licenses to such institutions, an alternative to the “untethered” Category 3 licenses common amongst exclusively mobile sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel. This is likely to expand the betting options available for all users in Massachusetts.

NCAAF College Football Betting in Massachusetts

Despite the relative scarcity of college football programs in Massachusetts, the Bay State nonetheless boasts an illustrious history of college football, with Ivy League university Harvard representing the state's top historical CFB power. The bad news is, college football fans in Massachusetts will not be permitted to wager on local college football programs throughout the season, with the possible exception of a scenario in which a Massachuhsetts-based program qualifies for a major tournament, such as the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reserves the right to modify regulations surrounding wagers on all college sports, so it's important for potential college sports bettors to monitor current regulations for any college sports on which they hope to lay wagers.

NCAAB College Basketball Betting in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has an extraordinarily long relationship with college basketball, given that the game of basketball was invented by James Naismith in none other than Springfield, Massachusetts. Currently, the Bay State boasts many college basketball programs, including Boston College, Boston University, Holy Cross, Merrimack, and the University of Massachusetts. However, it is important for sports bettors to note that while Massachusetts residents are permitted to wager on college basketball programs across most of the nation, schools based in Massachusetts are the exception: Massachusetts residents will not be permitted to wager on any college basketball team that calls Massachusetts home. The upside is there is one caveat, which is that if any Massachusetts-based college basketball team qualifies for the NCAA Tournament, the game they play during March Madness will be available for betting within the state.

Betting on the NBA in Massachusetts

Despite just one NBA franchise, the Boston Celtics, calling Massachusetts home, NBA betting in Massachusetts is nonetheless a top draw, given the Celtics' perennially high quality, and status as one of the two winningest NBA franchises in NBA history, with 17 championships to their name and legends such as Larry Bird, Paul Pierce, and Bill Russell having called Boston home for years. In 2023, led by all-stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are once again leading contenders for the NBA Championship, just one year removed from an NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors in 2022. What's more, top sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM are all known as excellent NBA betting platforms, with FanDuel in particular owning a well-deserved reputation as a leading resource for NBA bettors, due to the sportsbook's long-running habit of offering generous NBA-based perks to its users.

Betting on the NFL in Massachusetts

Given that NFL betting is king among all sports nation wide, when you add to the mix that the New England Patriots, by far the NFL's most successful franchise since the turn of the century, play just outside of Boston, it's no wonder that football dominates the sports betting landscape in the Bay State. Following Tom Brady's departure, the Patriots have struggled in recent years, at least compared to the Pats' extraordinary string of dominance that began when Brady took over in 2001, and saw New England compete in nine Super Bowls, winning six of them, through 2019. All the same, the emergence of Mac Jones as New England's quarterback of the future, and the continued presence of iconic head coach Bill Belichick give Patriots fans plenty to look forward to in the coming years.