So much for online Massachusetts sportsbooks before the Super Bowl.
After Thursday’s marathon session, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) re-convened and finally voted on tentative starting dates. The MGC agreed to start retail sports betting (Category 1) in January and pushed back mobile betting (Category 3) until March. It's a tough break for bettors who were hoping to use a BetMGM Massachusetts bonus code to wager on the big game.
The vote was 4-0-1, with Commissioner Nakisha Skinner abstaining.
The majority of today’s debate centered on pinning down exact dates. No specific dates were landed on, and they could be pushed back. Commissioners Skinner and Eileen O’Brien agreed to a compromise on the dates but admitted their personal comfort levels were “much beyond” that date.
The meeting continued Friday with a discussion of a scoring system to aid in choosing interested operators for licenses. On Thursday, the MGC agreed to a 15% tax rate for in-person on adjusted gross (AG) and 20% on digital.
MGC Survey for Potential Businesses
The MGC made available a Scoping Survey for companies intending to apply for a Category 1, Category 2 or Category 3 sports wagering operator license.
The Scoping Survey is required as part of a sports wagering application. The document can be accessed by visiting MassGaming.com and is due back to the MGC on Oct. 17 by 5 p.m.
A $200,000 application fee is associated with the survey.
Law Passed Aug. 1
In the early hours of Aug. 1, the Massachusetts state legislature passed laws to legalize retail and mobile sports betting. Gov. Charlie Baker signed the bill into law Aug. 10.
On the designated day in March, as many as 30 Massachusetts sports betting apps could go live with temporary licenses.
Some of those, however, would have to shut down within one year since only 15 permanent licenses eventually will be granted. Only seven of those will be “untethered’ licenses, since eight of the 15 will be tied to brick-and-mortar casinos.
All temporary licenses must pay an application fee of $1 million.
BetMassachusetts.com will keep you posted on news on the way to the state’s start of sports betting. The site also is a good destination for the best Massachusetts sportsbook promos.
