Legal Gambling USA

Online casino games, poker, sports and horse racing betting websites authorized in USA

Legal Gambling USA

Will Massachusetts Sports Betting Ever Become a Reality?

September 23, 2022

Legislators in Massachusetts have been working hard to get the right sports betting legislation in place so state residents can start betting on sports. Unfortunately, every step forward seems to result in an equal step backward.

At a time when the state’s legislature and gaming regulator have been making progress towards getting the right rules and regulations in place, it looks like one word may bring the entire process to a grinding halt. Apparently, this word is so obtrusive that the powers to be have gone so far as to say they can no longer move forward until the word is changed.

The issue was identified at a Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) meeting that was held on September 15, 2022. The problem occurs in line 296 of the state’s current sports betting legislation, which states the following:

“The commission shall authorize the qualified gaming entity to conduct sports wagering for a period of 1 year under a temporary license or until a final determination on its operator license application is made.”

According to Matthew Waters of Legal Sports Report, the MGC reported that the word of concern in this passage is “shall.”

What’s the Issue at Hand with the Word SHALL?”

According to the legislation, applicants for a sports betting operator’s license will need to pay a license fee of $1,000,000 for a 5-year license. The use of the term “shall authorize” is being interpreted to mean that once the license fee is paid, the MGC is then obligated to issue the license with no further investigation. That’s not the intent of the law.

According to experts, the intent of this portion of the law is to authorize the MGC to issue a license should they complete a review and deem that a particular sports betting operator is suitable. That would be suitable to offer retail/mobile sports betting services to the residents of Massachusetts. This being the case, the term “shall authorize” should have been “may authorize.”

As things stand at this time, officials from the MGC have stated they can’t find a way to work around the language as it is. That puts the ball squarely in the hands of the state legislature, which will have to convene to change the word or wording of the legislation. How quickly the legislature can and will address this problem is the issue at hand.

What Now?

At this point, the MGC should not be paralyzed. They should be able to move forward with interviews and application reviews with interested sports betting operators. What they won’t be able to do is accept payment of the $1,000,000 license fees.

Meanwhile, there is ample motivation for the state legislature to convene and address this problem sooner rather than later. After all, the state stands to make millions in taxes on gross sports betting revenue.

It’s important to note another involves the concept of temporary licensing. The law provides for unlimited temp licensing but a very limited number of permanent licenses. The MGC needs to resolve how they will deal with temp licensees should they not qualify for a permanent license.

 

 

Best Online Sports Betting Sites in USA


1 FanDuel

$150 in
Bonus Bets*
*T&C′s Apply, 21+
Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets
First online real money wager only. $10 Deposit req. Refund issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. Restrictions apply. See full terms. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER GET BONUS !
Licensed and regulated in the USA
2 Caesars Sportsbook

10 Tokens
100% Boost*
*T&C′s Apply, 21+
Bet $1, Double Your Winnings Your Next 10 Bets​, Up to $25 Max Bet Per Boost:
Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY or Washington, DC. New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. Min. qualifying bet amount: $1. Tokens max. bet amount: $25 per token. Tokens bet max. add'l winnings: $2,500 per token. Token(s) expire 14 days after receipt. Not reissued for voided/pushed bets. Void where prohibited. See full terms. 21+ only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER GET BONUS !
Licensed and regulated in the USA
3 BetRivers

Up to $250
Bonus Bet*
*T&C′s Apply, 21+
Use Promo Code SPORTS when you make your first-time deposit to receive a Bonus Bet, equal to your stake, up to a maximum of $250
Terms an conditions apply, 21+ only GET BONUS !
Licensed and regulated in the USA
4 Bet365 NJ

$150 in
Bonus Bets
*T&C′s Apply, 21+
Bet $5 and Get guaranteed* $150 in Bonus Bets
Subject to meeting qualifying criteria. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER GET BONUS !
Licensed and regulated in the USA
5 BetMGM

Bet $10
Get $150*
*T&C′s Apply, 21+
Welcome Offer: Bet $10, Get $150 If You Win!
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. Additional Terms Apply. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Terms an conditions apply, 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER GET BONUS !
Licensed and regulated in the USA
6 Draftkings

$200 in
Bonus Bets*
*T&C′s Apply, 21+
Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets
Terms an conditions apply, 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER GET BONUS !
Licensed and regulated in the USA

Our other articles

Minnesota to Pass on Sports Betting Legislation Again

May 23, 2025 — With close to 40 states now allowing their residents to have access to sports betting resources, the pressure is mounting on non-participating states to move forward. That doesn't seem likely to hap...

Attention Online Sports Bettors: Time to Get NFL Ready

June 23, 2025 — There is little doubt about the fact that U.S. sports bettors favor betting on NFL games over any other available betting markets. Need proof? According to data collected in late 2022 by CRG Glob...

Will Sports Betting in Missouri Start in December 2025?

May 15, 2025 — It was a long tough fight to get sports betting legislation passed in Missouri. After several failed attempts, a sports betting amendment, Amendment 2, was passed by voters in November 2024. The raz...

BetMGM Signs Sports Betting Partnership in Missouri

June 5, 2025 — Retail and online sports betting are expected to go live in Missouri by the beginning of December. That's great news for Missourians who are tired of traveling to adjacent states to place bets where...

Online Sports Betting News in USA

Attention Online Sports Bettors: Time to Get NFL Ready

June 23, 2025 — There is little doubt about the fact that U.S. sports bettors favor betting on NFL games over any other available betting markets. Need proof? According to data collected in late 2022 by CRG Glob...

DraftKings and FanDuel To Levy Sports Betting Surcharges in Illinois

June 16, 2025 — The handwriting was on the wall. As states that allow online gambling access, it was only a matter of time before legislators would turn to the online gambling industry for tax revenue. That is exac...

DraftKings Leads the Way With In-Game Betting

June 12, 2025 — Once upon a time, DraftKings was a world leader when it came to providing Daily Fantasy Sports wagering access. They still sit on that lofty perch but have also established themselves as prominent s...

BetMGM Signs Sports Betting Partnership in Missouri

June 5, 2025 — Retail and online sports betting are expected to go live in Missouri by the beginning of December. That's great news for Missourians who are tired of traveling to adjacent states to place bets where...

All the news from the legal sports betting in USA

 

Copyright 2013-2025 © LEGAL-GAMBLING-USA.COM - All rights reserved
Legal Disclaimer - Warning - Affiliate Program - Responsible Gaming - Contact
Legal-Gambling-USA.com on Twitter   RSS Legal-Gambling-USA.com

Gambling involves risk: indebtedness, dependence, isolation. Helpline: 1.800.522.4700
Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Gambling is prohibited for minors.

-18 -21