Sports betting starts Tuesday in Mass. Here's what to expect.
Legalized sports wagering will begin at Massachusetts casinos Tuesday, in time for fans to place bets on events ranging from the Super Bowl to the Academy Awards.
In-person betting will become available to the public at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor in Everett.
Mobile sports betting is expected to launch in Massachusetts at some point in March.
Which sports or events are included?
The events approved for wagering in Massachusetts include a lot more than the big games. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted to allow wagering for things like professional league drafts, the big game MVP awards, competitive eating contests, and competitive entertainment events like the Academy Awards.
Beyond football, basketball, hockey and baseball, commissioners also approved wagering on an expansive list of other sports, including Australian rules football, badminton, biathlon, billiards, bowling, boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, disc, floorball, futsal, golf, handball, field hockey, lacrosse, mixed martial arts, racing, netball, pesapallo, rowing, rugby league, rugby union, sailing, snooker, soccer, softball, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball and water polo.
Which sports or events are prohibited?
High school and youth sports or athletic events are never permitted as subjects for wagering in Massachusetts. Additionally, bets will not be allowed on a collegiate sport or athletic event involving one or more teams from the state, unless they are involved in a tournament with four or more teams.
Bets are not permitted for events where the final outcome is primarily based on the evaluation or assessment of a judge or panel of judges. That includes Summer and Winter Olympic events.
Wagers on any sports or sporting event overseen by Russian or Belarusian governing bodies, leagues, events and players are not allowed.
What kind of bets are allowed?
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has approved these types of wagers for all leagues: Single-game bets, teaser bets, parlays, over-under, moneyline, pools, exchange wagering, in-game wagering, in-play bets, proposition bets, straight bets, point spreads, pleasers, round robin, cash out, 3-way, spread/handicap, totals, player-game-team props, futures/outrights, yes/no, Win/Place/Each Way.
Next occurrence wagers are also allowed for in-game wagers.
What kind of bets are prohibited?
Massachusetts will not allow wagering on an outcome dependent on the performance of an individual collegiate athlete, fantasy contests, injuries, penalties, player discipline or replay review.
Are there house rules?
Yes, each of the three casinos has a published house rules document available from the gambling commission.
How much money will the state make?
Estimates for annual tax revenue from sports wagering have ranged from $35 million to more than $60 million.
More:Sports betting will be legal in Mass. next week
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Sports betting starts Tuesday in Mass. Here's what to expect.
