Massachusetts Online Casinos

Massachusetts Online Casinos

Regulation and legality of online gambling

You can start researching the Massachusetts criminal code and you won’t find a single reference to online gambling. Anything remotely related to online gambling is a chapter in Section 17A of the Commonwealth’s criminal code which explicitly forbids using a ‘telephone line for the purposes of accepting wagers or bets’. Since WIFI isn’t exactly a telephone line, placing bets online must be legal.

In 2016, a year-long study on online gambling and daily fantasy sports was conducted in MA, and the results pointed to the fact that such activities need to be regulated and fairness secured. That being said, there have been talks about a bill that would regulate daily fantasy sports and online sports betting, including other internet wagering activities as well. But, concrete actions have not yet been taken. Since nearby Connecticut and Delaware are pressuring Massachusetts legislators, the Massachusetts government may be the one to add the Bay State to the list of states where online gambling is explicitly legal. Until then, offshore betting sites are the most suitable market for Massachusetts gamers. By making use of these venues, MA players are in the clear, facing no risks of being arrested or charged with a crime for placing a wager on the web.

Massachusetts Gambling history

Betting on horse and dog racing in Massachusetts was legalized in 1934. Currently, only pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing is allowed, as dog race betting was outlawed by the Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act in 2009. The state also benefits from commercial casinos and there were operational casino cruise ships working the Massachusetts coastline from the late 90s until 2013.

Technically, online gambling is not legal in Massachusetts. If you read the previous sentence once again, you will notice that we didn’t use the word ‘illegal’. Why? Well, Massachusetts is yet another state where legislators didn’t see the importance of creating a legal framework for iGaming.

This basically means that operators and brands can’t legally register apps or casino sites within state lines. However, since there are no laws pertaining to online gambling, you can’t really get in trouble. As a result of this loophole, many offshore and out-of-state casinos have started targeting players from Massachusetts.

Therefore, you have a virtually infinite number of choices. While most casino sites are legitimate, there is always the risk of running into a scam. This could be an especially tricky situation, as you won’t be able to receive assistance in the dispute. It’s important to be careful.

As for the future, there are serious indications that Massachusetts might legalize online casinos in the future. They were one of the first states to pass DFS-related legislation, and have one of the fastest-growing land-based casino markets in the country. Mainly, it’s just a matter of time.

Land based casinos

Modern-day gambling in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. In 2011, the Expanded Gaming Act was passed, and it allowed for three casino resorts and one slot parlor to be opened. In 2015, the Plainridge Park Casino opened, and still runs as the only harness racing track and slot machine parlor in the Old Colony State. Plainridge Park racino in Plainville features over 1,200 slot machines; they range from penny slot machines all the way up to $100 cabinets. Plainridge Park also offers electronic table games, namely blackjack, roulette and craps.

MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor are the two casino resorts under construction since 2018. The MGM Springfield is expected to launch in September 2018 in Springfield, while the Encore Boston Harbor should open its doors in June 2019 in Everett, Boston suburb. Project First Light and Aquinnah Gaming have been announced by the two state’s federally recognized tribes, the Mashpee and the Aquinnah. Their fate is still uncertain due to disputes with the state about sovereign tribal land and the to-be facilities’’ locations.

Massachusetts gamblers that are into horse races can place their bets at Plainridge Racecourse and Suffolk Downs, as well as Raynham Park which is an off-track betting establishment.

Neighbouring States: Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont

Top Massachusetts Casino Slots and Games

References

[1] Massachusetts State Racing Commission

[2] Charitable Gaming Division of the State Lottery

[3] Massachusetts State Lottery Commission

[4] Online gambling - are players at risk of prosecution?

[5] American Gaming Association - https://www.americangaming.org