After two days of presentations, public discussions and executive sessions, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) unanimously approved Penn Sports Interactive’s (PSI) Barstool Sports for a temporary Category 3 sports wagering operator license. That means bettors will be able to use a Barstool Sportsbook Massachusetts promo code to wager when everything goes live.
The Massachusetts sports betting license will be tethered to the Plainridge Park Casino Category 1 (retail) license.
Commissioners placed conditions on that vote. Those included requiring that the licensee agrees that no persons under the age of 21 will be permitted entrance into any live Barstool College Football Show events and fully cooperating with an Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) investigation of Barstool Sports, Inc. in connection with the licensee’s branding.
PSI also will provide material updates to the IEB relative to proceedings discussed during executive session and provide the MGC with diversity goals for workforce and supplier spend.
Retail wagering is scheduled to launch in Massachusetts on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Online/mobile sports wagering is scheduled to launch in March, sometime before the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament begins. To date, no specific date/time has been announced for Massachusetts betting apps by the MGC for that launch.
Legislation for legal wagering was approved on Aug. 1 in Massachusetts and signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker on Aug. 10.
Next Moves for Barstool
Following a temporary license being granted, Penn Sports Interactive must obtain an operations certificate and meet additional conditions before they can accept wagers on approved sporting events.
During its Tuesday’s presentation, Barstool Penn Entertainment and Penn Sports Interactive said it will no longer use the term “risk free” in any of its marketing and promotional materials as it moves forward with its responsible gaming initiatives.
The Fanatics mobile application, which will also be tethered to Plainridge Park, will be presented starting sometime later Wednesday afternoon and possibly will carry over to Thursday’s scheduled meeting.
Barstool Retail Approved in December
On Dec. 21, the MGC approved and awarded a temporary, 1-year retail license ($1 million fee) to PlainridgePark Casino for a Barstool Sportsbook on property and will be accepting sports wagers on Tuesday, Jan. 31 when the state’s official launch of retail sportsbooks takes place.
Barstool will operate a temporary sportsbook on property until its main Barstool Sportsbook & Restaurant (located at the former location of Flutie's Sports Pub)opens in the spring.
BetMassachusetts.com will provide consistent news and stories on sports betting in the state up to and following the launches and also have Massachusetts sportsbook promotions.
