What Is the Status of Online Casino Gaming in Massachusetts?
23 June 2021, Bremen: ILLUSTRATION – An online game is played on a smartphone. With the new State Treaty on Gambling, which comes into force on July 1, previously prohibited virtual slot machine games on the Internet and online casinos with poker or roulette will be allowed. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa (Photo by Sina Schuldt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
In-person and online sports betting are now live in Massachusetts after mobile wagering launched on Friday.
You might be wondering, though, what's the status of online casino gambling? Will bettors be able to play their favorite casino games like online poker, slots, craps, roulette and more this year? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Online casino and online poker gaming are not legal and it's unclear when they will be.
Massachusetts' legislative push to legalize betting was focused on sports betting, and there hasn't been any indication that online casino gaming will come up in discussions anytime soon.
Massachusetts lawmakers worked diligently to roll out in-person betting in five months and online betting in seven months after House Bill No. 5164 was signed last August.
For now, the best option for casino-style gaming is social casinos. Social casinos allow gamers the chance to play slots and table games. Social and sweepstakes casinos like Chumba Casino and LuckyLand are legal options for gamers. These types of casinos allow players to use virtual currencies to play games and potentially win cash prizes.
Six states currently have legalized online casino gaming: Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. For more recommendations on which online casino site to choose, read our best online casinos guide.
Take a look at our online casino legalization tracker to stay informed on the latest developments in online casino gaming.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Background
In-person betting went live in the Bay State on Jan. 31 and online sports betting launched at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Six online sportsbooks launched apps on Friday:
- Barstool Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- Caesars Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- WynnBET Sportsbook
In addition, betr, Bally Bet and Fanatics Sportsbook have been approved for online sports betting in Massachusetts, although their products are expected to launch at a later date, with betr likely launching in April.
If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call (800)-327-5050 for 24/7 support. Must be 21 or older to participate. Get set before you bet – talk to GameSense first! LiveChat @ GameSenseMA.com or call 1-800-GAM-1234.
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