Many fans will be looking to place a bet on the big game this year, with many sports books opening their doors for the first time this year. However, before you place any bets online or at a UK bookmaker, it’s important to note the legalities surrounding sports betting in Massachusetts.
Early History Of Sports Betting In Massachusetts
“Sports betting,” according to the National Sports Fraud Commission, “is now a multi-billion dollar industry, enjoyed by thousands of US sports lovers each year.”
It’s clear that many people enjoy wagering on sports teams and individual players, and the early history of sports betting in Massachusetts is filled with illegal wagering rings. In fact, during the early part of the 20th century, ‘numbers’ betting was prevalent in the state. It was typically done over the telephone and the house edges were hidden (hence the popularity of hidden odds).
The state legislature outlawed numbers betting in 1918, but it wasn’t until 1972 that the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ratified the ability of states to legalize sports betting.
State-By-State Analysis Of Legalized Sports Betting
As well as looking at the general guidelines set out by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, we will now delve into the specifics of when sports betting is allowed in each of the state’s 10 congressional districts.
New Bedford District
The New Bedford District does not place any restrictions on sports betting. State law allows for online wagering and mobile wagering, and there are no limits on how much you can bet. The only thing you need to be mindful of is that all sports betting in Massachusetts must have a juice fee of at least 10%, plus applicable taxes.
Boston District
The Boston District allows for unlimited sports betting as long as it’s done in moderation. According to the law, it is illegal to operate a betting parlor in the city of Boston, but individual bets up to $2,500 per person per day are perfectly acceptable. You also need to be mindful of the fact that the state does impose a tax of 12% on all bets, whether they’re legal or not.
Worcester District
The Worcester District also allows for unlimited sports betting as long as it’s done in moderation. Like the Boston District, the city of Worcester has specific restrictions on the locations where you can place bets, but it is still perfectly legal to do so. Just be mindful of the fact that, like the other districts, the state imposes a 12% tax on all bets, whether legal or not.
Lowell District
The Lowell District also allows for unlimited sports betting, as long as it’s done in moderation. Like the other districts, the city of Lowell has specific restrictions on where you can place bets, but like the Boston District, it is still perfectly legal to do so. Just be mindful of the fact that, like the other districts, the state imposes a 12% tax on all bets, whether legal or not.
Cambridge District
The Cambridge District also allows for unlimited sports betting, as long as it’s done in moderation. Like the other districts, the city of Cambridge has specific restrictions on where you can place bets, but it is still perfectly legal to do so. Just be mindful of the fact that, like the other districts, the state imposes a 12% tax on all bets, whether legal or not.
Springfield District
The Springfield District allows for a bit more liberal wagering laws than the other districts. State law allows for online wagering and mobile wagering, and all bets, regardless of size, are taxed at the same rate – 20%. You also need to be mindful of the state’s restrictions on where you can place bets, as well as its ban on bookmaking businesses within the city limits.
Greenfield District
The Greenfield District also allows for a bit more liberal wagering laws than the other districts. State law allows for online wagering and mobile wagering, and all bets, regardless of size, are taxed at the same rate – 20%. You also need to be mindful of the state’s restrictions on where you can place bets, as well as its ban on bookmaking businesses within the city limits.
Barnes District
The Barnes District allows for limited sports betting. State law allows for online wagering and mobile wagering, and all bets, with the exception of parimutuel wagering, must have a juice fee of at least 10%. Like the other districts, the city of Barnes has specific restrictions on where you can place bets, but it is still perfectly legal to do so. Just be mindful of the fact that, like the other districts, the state imposes a 12% tax on all bets, whether legal or not.
Holyoke District
The Holyoke District also allows for limited sports betting. State law allows for online wagering and mobile wagering, and all bets, with the exception of parimutuel wagering, must have a juice fee of at least 10%. Like the other districts, the city of Holyoke has specific restrictions on where you can place bets, but it is still perfectly legal to do so. Just be mindful of the fact that, like the other districts, the state imposes a 12% tax on all bets, whether legal or not.
Somers District
The Somers District also allows for limited sports betting. State law allows for online wagering and mobile wagering, and all bets, with the exception of parimutuel wagering, must have a juice fee of at least 10%. Like the other districts, the city of Somers has specific restrictions on where you can place bets, but it is still perfectly legal to do so. Just be mindful of the fact that, like the other districts, the state imposes a 12% tax on all bets, whether legal or not.
Danvers District
In the Danvers District, online wagering, mobile wagering, and parlor bets are all legal, but physical sportsbooks are restricted to placing bets within the city limits. Outside of the city limits, bets are not allowed. Like the other districts, the city of Danvers has specific restrictions on where you can place bets, but it is still perfectly legal to do so. Just be mindful of the fact that, like the other districts, the state imposes a 12% tax on all bets, whether legal or not.
Federal Law Regarding Sports Betting
In general, the federal government looks at sports betting as a crime – specifically, as an unlawful activity that solicits money or property from another person, in this case, a gambler. Violators can be fined up to $5,000 and face up to five years in prison.
However, there are exceptions. The Wire Act, passed in 1962, makes sports betting legal between states and Native American reservations. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, also known as the PASPA, permits state-level sportsbooks to operate in states that legalized sports betting prior to the law’s enactment in 1992. Finally, the Sherman Antitrust Act, passed in 1890, states that “[n]o person engaged in the trade or business of betting or wagering shall acquire or maintain any interest in or to any enterprise or property designed for gambling purposes.”
When Is Betting Legal In Massachusetts?
If you are planning on placing a bet on a sports game this year, you need to be aware of the fact that Massachusetts state law does place some restrictions on when and where you can place bets. However, it is still perfectly legal to do so. The following outlines when betting is and isn’t allowed in Massachusetts.
- Allowed – Between the dates of January 1 and October 31
- Not allowed – On January 1, November 1, and October 31
- Not allowed – Between the dates of November 1 and October 31
The Sportsbooks In Massachusetts
Now, we will discuss the various ways you can place a bet in Massachusetts. The state has four major bookmakers who handle all legal betting: