Is Online Gambling Legal in Massachusetts?
The Bay State offers legal daily fantasy sports (DFS), social casinos, social poker, and sweepstakes gaming.
DFS is the only regulated form of internet gambling in Massachusetts. Lawmakers approved daily fantasy in 2016.
Will Massachusetts Expand Online Gambling?
MA politicians have made several attempts to legalize online sports betting, casinos, and poker. To date, each legislative effort has died before receiving approval from both houses.
We strongly believe that the Bay State will expand its internet gambling market. The main question is when.
Most of Massachusetts’ early bills focused on internet poker. More recently, though, lawmakers have taken an interest in online sports gambling.
Multiple betting bills have entered the legislature since 2019. None of these efforts have gained the necessary support to pass.
However, politicians are still motivated to regulate retail and mobile betting. They don’t want potential tax dollars to continue flowing into neighboring New York and Rhode Island.
That said, we expect retail and online sports betting to be legal in Massachusetts by 2021 or 2022.
The best hope for internet casinos and poker sites involves getting attached to a comprehensive gambling bill. This way, online casinos and poker rooms would become legal along with internet betting.
If online gaming and poker aren’t attached, though, they will sit on the backburner. In this event, we expect online poker and casinos to become legal in 2025 or beyond.
Massachusetts Online Betting
Gov. Charlie Baker has authored or co-authored a couple of sports betting bills. His 2019 legislation sought to legalize live and online sports gambling.
Neither Baker’s nor any other politician’s betting bill has passed, though. The legislature is hung up on multiple sticking points:
- Tax rates
- Inclusion or exclusion of retail betting
- Whether betting on in-state college teams would be allowed
Massachusetts is especially sensitive about in-state college betting. After all, the 1978-79 Boston College men’s basketball team initiated one of the biggest point-shaving scandals ever.
All things considered, the Bay State isn’t experiencing smooth sailing in regulating retail or online sports betting. However, it’ll likely push a bill through within the next two years.
Massachusetts Online Casinos
Massachusetts doesn’t offer legal real-money online casinos. Politicians aren’t overly focused on regulating internet gaming, either.
In the meantime, you can enjoy legal social and sweepstakes casinos. Both types of gaming sites are legal because they don’t involve real-money play.
A sweepstakes casino awards you free coins right away. For example, Chumba Casino gives two Sweeps Coins just for signing up.
Upon receiving coins, you play casino games and try to earn sweepstakes entries. You can purchase more coins at any time and continue playing for sweepstakes prizes.
A social gaming site also gives you free coins in the beginning. Big Fish and Zynga Casino are examples of social casinos that do so.
You use coins to earn achievements that you can share with social-media friends. Just like with sweepstakes sites, you can purchase more coins at any point.
Massachusetts Daily Fantasy Sports
The Bay State offers legal and regulated daily fantasy sports. Gov. Baker signed DFS legislation into law in 2016.
Massachusetts’ DFS bill lays out the following stipulations for players:
- Deposits are limited to $1,000 per month.
- Entries are limited to $150 per contest.
- Operators must advertise truthfully.
- Sites can’t offer contests involving college teams.
- Players must be 21+ years old.
Massachusetts Poker Sites
Massachusetts doesn’t regulate online poker. It has seen several pieces of legislation introduced to no avail.
However, you can enjoy sweepstakes poker sites in this state. These poker rooms see you play cash games and tournaments to win sweepstakes entries.
You can also receive free coins. For example, Global Poker offers free Sweeps Coins every day.
How would you Deposit at Massachusetts Gambling Sites?
The MA gambling industry would provide plenty of ways to deposit and cash out. Available options would surely include everything from e-wallets to in-person deposits.
Deposit Options
- Cash at the casino cage: You visit a brick-and-mortar casino and deposit in person.
- Credit card: Use Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express to deposit.
- E-check: You send funds from your bank account to the desired gambling site.
- E-wallet: Common e-wallets in US markets include Neteller, PayPal, and Skrill.
- PayNearMe: You visit a 7-Eleven or CVS and fund your online account in person.
- Prepaid card: A gambling site issues you a branded prepaid card (i.e., Play+).
What about Withdrawals?
Most deposit methods are also available for cashouts. Credit cards and PayNearMe are the only exceptions.
E-wallets offer the quickest online route towards getting paid. You’d receive your money within around 24 hours.
MA gambling sites would expect you to offer extra identification when cashing out. For example, you might need to supply a copy of your driver’s license and a recent utility bill.
Online Gambling Bonuses in Massachusetts
The Bay State is leaning towards online sports betting above all. If Massachusetts legalizes sports wagering as expected, it will certainly feature lucrative betting bonuses.
Of course, it could still regulate online poker and casinos and provide an even greater variety of deals. The following information covers every type of bonus offer that could be available in Massachusetts.
No Deposit Bonus
A no-deposit bonus becomes available after you register at an internet casino, poker room, or sportsbook. You can withdraw what’s left over from a no-deposit bonus after satisfying playthrough and other terms & conditions.
Here’s an example:
- A gambling site gives you a $25 no-deposit bonus.
- Playthrough is 10x.
- You must wager 25 x 10 = $250
- You have $17 left after meeting playthrough.
- You can either withdraw the $17 or keep gambling with it.
Match-deposit Bonus
With a match-deposit bonus, a gambling site matches a percentage of your deposit (usually 100%). It also caps the maximum amount that you can earn from one of these deals.
Here’s an example:
- A gambling site offers a 100% match bonus up to $200.
- You deposit $150 and, thus, qualify for a $150 bonus.
- Playthrough is 5x.
- You must wager 150 x 5 = $750.
- You can withdraw the $150 after meeting playthrough.
Cashback
Exclusive to online casinos, cashback awards a percentage of your losses back. Gambling sites typically restrict these deals to seven days.
Here’s an example:
- An internet casino offers 20% cashback up to $100.
- This deal covers your first five days of play.
- You lose $300 during the 5-day period.
- 300 x 0.2 = 60
- You’d receive $60 back (after satisfying T&Cs).
Free Spins
Also exclusive to gaming sites, free spins are available for real-money slots. They give you a chance to accumulate winnings.
Here’s an example:
- An online casino gives you 25 free spins.
- You use these spins to win $15.
- Playthrough is 5x.
- You must wager 15 x 5 = $75.
- You have $11 left after meeting T&Cs.
- You can either play with the $11 or withdraw it.
Free Bet
Available through mobile sportsbooks, a free bet provides an opportunity to earn back money from a losing wager.
Here’s an example:
- An online sportsbook offers you a free bet worth up to $100.
- You wager $50 and lose.
- Playthrough is 8x.
- You must wager 50 x 8 = $400.
- You receive the $50 in losses back after meeting T&Cs.
Loyalty Rewards
Many gambling sites offer loyalty programs that deliver additional rewards. The rewards vary based on the type of gambling.
Generally speaking, you can look forward to some or all of the following perks:
- Cashback (casino only)
- Deposit bonuses
- Free bets (sportsbook only)
- Free spins (casino only)
- Higher deposit & withdrawal limits
- Land-based casino comps
- VIP host
FAQ on MA Gambling
The Bay State has made plenty of efforts to regulate internet sportsbooks, poker rooms, and casinos. However, lawmakers haven’t come together on any legislation yet.
We suspect that they’ll eventually reach an agreement on mobile betting in 2021 or 2022. Legislators might even include online casinos and/or poker sites in such a bill.
Yes. Massachusetts withholds 5% from gambling winnings for state income tax.
Yes. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission would preside over the internet gambling industry. It would review applications, issue licenses, and monitor operators to ensure that players are treated fairly.
MA gambling sites will depend on which forms of iGambling the state legalizes. We envision internet sports betting being the first to pass the legislature.
In such a case, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM will likely apply for and receive licenses. These brands could also provide MA online casinos.