Dave | January 4, 2023 | Updated on: January 8th, 2024
Massachusetts is not the first state people think about when it comes to gambling. In fact, casinos and other forms of gambling spread through Massachusetts much slower than neighbouring states. For many years, residents would need to travel to other states like Rhode Island, New York, or Connecticut to visit a casino.
In fact, the first casino to open in Massachusetts only opened its doors in 2015, with several other casinos opening in the years following. The most recent casino to open in Massachusetts is the MGM Springfield casino, which opened its doors in 2018.
Casinos aren’t the only gambling options for residents, though. Before casinos were legalized, residents in Massachusetts could look to various charities, which were allowed to offer bingo and other similar games. The state lottery is also available and sells lottery tickets, scratch cards, and keno. Finally, betting on horse racing is permitted in Massachusetts, with off-track betting.
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Online Gambling Allowed in Massachusetts
Online gambling in Massachusetts has some regulations, but there are some grey areas. There are two forms of gambling online in Massachusetts are entirely legal. The first is off-track betting on horse racing.
In addition to this, daily fantasy sports are also permitted. The state law doesn’t explicitly allow fantasy sports, but the state attorney did determine that they are legal under Massachusetts law. However, the state attorney did propose that there should be some regulation.
Nothing has come of it yet though, so Fantasy Sports are not regulated at this time. Like Daily Fantasy Sports, the law does not make online casinos in Massachusetts legal, or illegal. As long as residents find safe casinos sites, there should be no issue with someone from Massachusetts playing casino games.
Live Massachusetts Gambling
While Massachusetts may have been slower than other states to expand its gambling market, numerous forms of gambling are now legal in the state. The most recent form is casino gambling. The first Massachusetts casino opened in 2015 and was the Plainridge Park Casino.
It offers slot games, video poker, and various electronic table games. There are three other casinos that opened in Massachusetts, and these offer other live games like craps, roulette, and poker.
Massachusetts also has two racetracks for horse racing. Betting on greyhounds was outlawed in 2009. Both live and simulcast racing is available in Massachusetts.
Residents can also visit various charity events, where games like bingo are offered. Charities can also hold raffles, casino game nights, and poker tournaments.
Finally, residents can enjoy the Massachusetts Lottery, which offers a wide range of games. Besides playing the lottery, residents can also enjoy scratch cards, games of keno, and virtual horse races.
Gambling Laws in Massachusetts
The state of Massachusetts gambling laws are quite open and allow many forms of gambling. The law allows for state lotteries and for charity organizations to offer more types of games than most other states. Massachusetts also allows betting on horse racing, and in 2012, casinos were legalized. Everything is regulated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Following a constitutional amendment, the lottery was officially allowed in the state of Massachusetts. The state allows the sale of tickets for games of chance involving pull tabs or numbers. This means residents can play various lotto games, scratch cards, keno, and virtual horse racing. Massachusetts law allows the state to join interstate lotteries like Mega Millions and Powerball, but tickets cannot be sold online.
Games of chance can also be held by educational, charitable, fraternal, veteran, and religious organizations. Typically, this means Bingo, Beano, and Raffles. If the buy-in is more than $10, with a grand prize larger than $10 000, these organizations must get special permission from the Attorney General.
These organizations can also hold up to three casino nights a year. Special requirement is required from the state, with craps, roulette, blackjack, and Texas Hold’em tournaments are allowed.
Casinos Allowed
In 2012, Massachusetts casinos were officially approved by the state’s voters. The changes to the law allowed three resort casinos and one racino. The latest casino to open was the MGM Springfield.
These new casinos are permitted to offer slots, poker, craps, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and Pai Gow. The racino is only allowed to offer video poker, electronic table games, and slot machines.
Massachusetts Casinos
If you’re looking to gamble in Massachusetts, there are plenty of charities around the state that offer bingo nights, as well as the occasional casino night. Most convenience stores also sell lotto tickets and scratch cards. There are also two racetracks, which offer betting on horse racing.
There are currently four casinos in the state, which offer a great range of games for visitors. The Plainridge Racetrack offers slot games, video poker, and electronic table games. The other three locations offer a wider range of games.
| Casino | Games | Address | Website |
| MGM Springfield | 3000 Slot Games | 1441 Main Street | MGM Springfield |
| Encore Boston Harbor | 3000 Slot Games | 1 Horizon Way | Encore Boston Harbor |
| First Light Casino Resort | 3000 Slot Games | Route 24 & Route 140 | First Light Casino |
| Plainridge Park Casino | 1200 Slots | 301 Washington Street | Plainridge Park Casino |
Massachusetts Gambling History
There is quite a long history of gambling in the state. Horseracing was officially legalized in 1935 but had been happening longer than that. Since it was legalized, seven racetracks opened in Massachusetts; however, only two remain today. Greyhound racing was also legal but was outlawed in 2010.
Casinos Legalized
Back in 2012, voters in the state agreed to legalize casinos in the state. A referendum was held to amend the constitution, but there was some opposition after it passed. There was a ballot to repeal the amendment, but it failed.
Massachusetts decided to allow a total of four casinos. One would be a racetrack, one would be on Tribal land, and the other two were awarded to Wynn Resorts and MGM.
Plainridge Racetrack were the first to open their casino in June 2015, with MGM Springfield and Wynn Encore Boston Harbor being the most recent.
Massachusetts Casino FAQs
Yes, all forms of gambling are legal in the state. There are several casinos, as well as betting on horse racing, lotteries, and more.
As expected, there is indeed a minimum age. Players need to be 21 years old to gamble at a casino, but if you’re 18, you can play the lotto, bingo, and bet on horse racing.
Yes, the state lotto was legalized in 1971
No, unfortunately, lottery tickets cannot be bought online and must be bought at retail stores.
Yes, these were legalized in 2015 by the state attorney.
Due to the ruling of the state attorney, most fantasy sports operators are available in the state. The largest are DraftKings and FanDuels, but several others are also available.
Yes, they are, but they were only legalized recently. The constitution was amended in 2010 to permit casinos, with the first casino opening in 2015. There are now a total of four casinos.
The Plainridge Casino offers a good variety of games, but a little more limited compared to other Massachusetts casinos. The games on offer are slots, video poker, and electronic table games.
The other casinos in the state, like MGM Springfield and Wynn Encore Boston Harbor, offer all the casino games you want. These include slots, video poker, roulette, blackjack, craps, and poker.
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