Massachusetts has voted in favour of legalising some rarer markets ahead of the launch of its sports betting ecosystem on January 31st. It was recently revealed that bettors in the state of Massachusetts will be granted the ability to place wagers on drafts, special events, and awards events, including the Oscars and the Emmys. Bizarrely, some markets that many bettors may consider to be the most basic are still yet to be legalised.
It has been advised that this isn’t the final count, either. More markets are expected to be added as time goes on, broadening Massachusetts’ offering and continuing to make it one of the rarer states when it comes to the gambling wave that is currently taking the country by storm.
Massachusetts Adds More Markets
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted to include in their gambling launch, among other things:
- Oscars
- Emmys
- Nathans
- ML Drafts
- ML Awards
However, some of the most popular and growing betting markets are yet to be included, such as those dedicated to esports betting or virtual sports markets. There will be no coverage of any Olympic events – but that is reportedly planned for future integration. Furthermore, owing to the current geopolitical climate, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has voted to not include any betting markets that feature Russian involvement.
On the 31st of January, Massachusetts becomes the latest in a long line of states to open their doors to sports betting markets. Then, in March, the state will officially legalise and put into practice mobile sports betting practices. There are tough regulations in place that’ll see the launch of these markets roll out with a high level of governance, but there are already expectations that Massachusetts will become of the most lucrative markets for sports betting operators.
In a statement, Chairwoman Cathy Judd-Stein of the MGC explained:
‘We have the opportunity to come back (to the list of markets). We know we will be asked about different events on an ongoing basis. This is the dynamic, as it’s been pointed out, a dynamic list. We’re very fortunate to have it be robust. I think it’s competitive with the illegal market.’
When the markets go live in a few days, they’ll cover a staggering range of traditional sports. Fortunately, sports betting in Massachusetts will open up just weeks before the Super Bowl, one of the most popular and iconic sporting events in the country. There’s a banner year ahead for Massachusetts and its betting ecosystem, and it all begins in just a few days.
