On Thursday, January 19, 2023, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) completed a string of public meetings where commissioners reviewed applications and heard presentations from applicants for untethered Category 3 sports wagering operator licenses. During Thursday’s meeting, commissioners voted on the preliminary suitability of the six operators that applied for an untethered Category 3 license.

• Bally’s Interactive (Bally Bet) was found to be preliminarily suitable for a temporary untethered Category 3 sports wagering operator license by a unanimous vote.
• Betfair Interactive US (FanDuel) was found to be preliminarily suitable for a temporary untethered Category 3 sports wagering operator license by a unanimous vote.
• Betr Holdings (Betr) was found to be preliminarily suitable for a temporary untethered Category 3 sports wagering operator license by a vote of 4-1.
• Crown MA Gaming (DraftKings) was found to be preliminarily suitable for a temporary untethered Category 3 sports wagering operator license by a unanimous vote.
• Digital Gaming Corporation (Betway) was found to be preliminarily suitable for a temporary untethered Category 3 sports wagering operator license by a unanimous vote.
• PointsBet was found to be preliminarily suitable for a temporary untethered Category 3 sports wagering operator license by a unanimous vote.

Retail sports wagering is scheduled to launch in Massachusetts on January 31. Online/mobile sports wagering is targeted to launch in March 2023. More information will be detailed at future MGC meetings.

Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 23N permits the MGC to award no more than seven Category 3 sports wagering licenses not connected to a Category 1 or Category 2 sports wagering licensee. Previously, the MGC issued Category 1 sports wagering licenses to Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino. Additionally, five companies have been found preliminarily suitable for Category 3 sports wagering licenses tethered to one of those Category 1 licenses. Those operators are WynnBet, Caesars, BetMGM, Penn Sports Interactive (Barstool Sportsbook), and Fanatics Betting & Gaming.

The six operators found preliminarily suitable today will join the five operators previously found suitable to make up the Massachusetts online/mobile sports wagering market as soon as March.

The MGC will establish a procedure by which the suitable Category 3 operators are able to request a temporary license to conduct sports wagering. A full suitability review will now be undertaken by the MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB). Following a temporary license being granted, operators must obtain an operations certificate and meet additional conditions before they can accept wagers on approved sporting events.