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BHC's sightseeing cruises and harbor tours are fun, educational, and are a relaxing way to see Boston. One Long Wharf Boston, MA 02110 U.S.A. 617-227-4321 or 1. Call at 1-866-234-7350 Call at 1-855-577-9489 Call at 1-877-288-3037 Call at 1-877-288-3037 Call at 1-877-474-2969. Casino Cruises Much like riverboat gambling in states that are situated along the Mississippi River, Massachusetts has casino cruises. The difference between casino cruises and riverboat gambling is simple: riverboat gambling is legalized under state law whereas casino cruises. Find your cruise leaving from Boston at Cruiseline.com. Compare the top prices for all available cruise itineraries departing from Boston and book today.
If you know anything about the casino industry in New England, you probably know that there isn’t all that much to speak of. Compared to most other regions of the United States, New England, historically, has taken a hard-line stance against most forms of gambling, but especially that which takes place at casinos. The reasons for this are numerous, but it really boils down to the Puritan roots of the region. By nature, Puritans despised gambling and often did anything they could to prevent gambling from taking place.
Times are changing in the region, and there is no better example of that than the state of Massachusetts. The state now has plenty of casino options for those who live in the state as well as for those who might be visiting. In fact, competition amongst New England states as it relates to casinos is something that is beginning to heat up, and more and more casinos are being established.
Massachusetts Online Casinos
Massachusetts real money gaming regulations are pretty much ancient, so it should come as no surprise that they never refer specifically to online games of chance. Since the local statutes have separate provisions for phone and live games, most experts agree that illegal gambling laws simply don’t apply to online gamblers and as such can’t be used as a pretext to punish offshore sites’ customers.
This theory hasn’t really been challenged in front of a Massachusetts court yet as no players have been prosecuted so far. However, you should keep in mind that Massachusetts has separate regulations that prohibit gambling in public, so you probably shouldn’t use mobile gambling apps on the go as long as you remain within the borders of the state.
The first question that you need to answer is very simple: what forms of gambling am I actually interested in? If the answer is poker than you should look for a site that attracts a lot of traffic due to the fact that this is what determines the quality of cash games and the size of tournament prize pools.
If you’re interested in casino-style games like slots or roulette, you should find the site that offers a broad game selection and a generous welcome bonus. If you want to wager on sporting events, your objective should be to find a site that combines good prices with extensive in-play and pre-match betting options.
Massachusetts Online Gambling FAQ
How Do I Get Started?
If you’ve already picked a site, you should start by opening a gambling account and making a deposit. You’ll also have to verify your account by submitting a scanned photo ID. This step is necessary to ensure that no underage gambling takes place. Once you’re done, you won’t have to verify your account ever again.
How Do I Get My Money if I Win?
The money tied to your account is always at your disposal, so you can request a cash out anytime you want. Please remember that requests of this kind aren’t processed instantly. The default payment method is a bank wire transfer, so all in all, you might have to wait about 2 weeks before you receive your winnings.
What is the minimum age to gamble online in Massachusetts?
18 for offshore gambling sites. The legal age for land-based gambling is 18 for lotteries and pari-mutuel betting and 21 for casino-style gambling.
How do I open an account?
All you need to do is fill out a registration form, which should be readily available on the site that you want to open an account with. Playing for real money usually requires going through a very basic identity check.
Where can I open my account from?
You should be able to open an offshore gambling account on any Massachusetts-facing site from anywhere in the United States.
From where can I access Massachusetts online gambling sites?
Most sites can be accessed from anywhere in the US. If you travel outside Massachusetts you should remember that the local regulations may be different from the laws of your state. For example, online gambling is considered a rather serious offense in Washington and Utah.
Where can I familiarize myself with the official regulations over gambling in Massachusetts?
The relevant regulations are all listed in the Massachusetts code.
How do I deposit to my online gambling account?
Depositing to most sites usually requires a credit card. We recommend MasterCard and Visa, as those brand are widely considered to be extremely reliable when it comes to gambling-related banking.
How do I withdraw my winnings?
Most sites allow their customers to choose between a bank wire transfer and a check by mail.
Is my money safe?
Your money should be perfectly safe as long as you stick with trustworthy sites, such as the ones listed here.
What body regulates gambling in Massachusetts?
Gambling in Massachusetts is regulated by the Massachusetts State Racing Commission.
Massachusetts Casinos
Plainridge Park Casino
MGM Springfield
Wynn Boston Harbor
Gambling in Massachusetts
Gambling life in Massachusetts is centered around tribal casinos, which offer slots and classic table games. If you aren’t interested in casino-style gambling, you can also try pari-mutuel betting or participate in a state-operated lottery.
Massachusetts lawmakers haven’t passed any iGaming-friendly regulations so far and it’s very unlikely that the current situation will change in the foreseeable future, so if you’re looking for internet real money gaming options, offshore poker sites, casinos and sportsbooks are the only choices you have.
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Casinos in Massachusetts
In 2011, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick passed legislation that granted gaming licenses to several brick-and-mortar casinos in an effort to stimulate the economy. Since then, the state’s attitude on traditional casinos has slowly soured due to a handful of questionable legal incidents.
Several casinos are currently operating in Massachusetts, including:
- The MGM Springfield located in Springfield
- Martha’s Vineyard Casino located in Aquinnah
- Plainridge Park Casino located in Plainville
- Project First Light Resort & Casino located in Taunton
Massachusetts citizens may own antique slot machines that are at least 30 years old as long as they do not use them to generate a profit.
Players who want to gamble from the comfort of their home or are looking for a more generous range of tabletop games can use our list of recommended online casinos for great Blackjack, Craps, and video poker options.
Land-Based Casinos
Ever since 2011, the state of Massachusetts has made it so that 3 land-based casinos can be licensed under state law. In the state, land-based casinos exist in much the same way that they do in popular gambling destinations such as Atlantic City or Las Vegas. In addition to the casino floor and all the games available there, most of these sites are equipped with hotels, restaurants, spas, and stores for shopping.
Native American/Tribal Casinos
Though there are currently none, there has been a strong push by Native tribes to be able to have casinos established on their own, sovereign lands. There is a belief that tribal gaming will become available soon, but so far that has not come to fruition.
Casino Cruises
Much like riverboat gambling in states that are situated along the Mississippi River, Massachusetts has casino cruises. The difference between casino cruises and riverboat gambling is simple: riverboat gambling is legalized under state law whereas casino cruises take passengers to Federal waters where state laws do not apply. In the absence of state law, most types of gambling are, technically, legal. This is a highly disputed form of gambling and always has been, but the fact of the matter is that it has existed for some time now and has not really come under legal scrutiny.
Massachusetts Sportsbooks & Sports betting
Although sports gambling hasn’t been legalized in Massachusetts, a gaming bill has been gaining momentum with both the state’s legislators and the general public. Since the US Supreme Court’s ruling that paved the way for states to regulate sports betting, Massachusetts has been putting together all the pieces needed to legalize this form of gambling.
Massachusetts Representative and chairman of the Committee on Economic Development Joseph Wagner has been quoted saying that sports gambling may be legalized by 2019.
eSports and fantasy gambling
The state of Massachusetts does not currently differentiate between wagers made on electronic sports (eSports) and traditional sports. As a result, betting on the outcomes of eSports games is prohibited.
In the spring of 2018, Massachusetts legislators passed House Bill 2273, legalizing daily fantasy sports (DFS) gambling and outlining the regulations that DFS operators must follow. The popular Boston-based DFS operator DraftKings can now be accessed by players in its home state. Other notable DFS operators, such as FanDuel, are also available to gamblers in Massachusetts.
Animal racing
Betting on horse racing is legal in Massachusetts. Wagers on horse races must be placed either on-track or at a licensed off-site racing establishment. Pari-mutuel wagers can be made at the following locations:
- Berkshire Downs
- Brockton Fair
- Foxboro Raceway
- Great Barrington
- Marshfield Fair
- Northampton Fair
- Suffolk Downs
- Plainridge Race Course
- Weymouth Fair
In 2008, Massachusetts state voters passed the Greyhound Protection Act, which put an end to all dog racing in the state. Although it is not illegal to gamble on greyhound races, there are no more race tracks that host it.
Massachusettes Poker Games
All of Massachusetts’s major casinos offer live poker tables.
The state’s laws regarding social games of poker are ambiguous. There are no explicit prohibitions on games hosted within private residences, which means that all games of poker outside of public spaces are legal.
Lottery
Massachusetts’s in-state lottery offers a wide selection of games, such as:
- Mass Cash
- Megabucks Doubler
- The Numbers Game
- Jackpot Poker
- Keno
There are also several multi-state lottery games, including:
- Powerball
- Mega Millions
- Lucky for Life
Winners of a lottery in Massachusetts keep 45% of the money, around 15% of the prize pool is claimed by lottery administrators to cover operating costs, and the rest goes to Massachusetts in the form of taxes. The majority of lottery revenue garnered by the state goes to the State Lottery Fund, which provides aid to cities and towns in need.
Additional short-term lotteries can be hosted for the following purposes:
- Benefiting the arts
- Property tax relief
- Local-level service needs
Lottery prizes over $600 may be subject to garnishment if the winner is delinquent on their taxes or child support. Winners must claim their prize within one year of the award date. Prizes not claimed in time are considered forfeit and collected by the state.
Bingo
Any non-profit formally recognized by Massachusetts may operate games of chance such as Bingo for fundraising as long as prizes do not exceed $100. Charity fundraising is hugely popular in Massachusetts, with more than 150 non-profit operators. In 2013, over $66 million was raised.
Popular Bingo hall locations include:
- Bishop Stang Bingo located in North Dartmouth
- AEF/C Bingo located in Natick
- Co Bingo located in Quincy
- Methuen Knights of Columbus located in Methuen
- Boston JUMP located in Boston
- Ashland Fire Department Association Bingo located in Ashland
Massachusetts Casino History
As was mentioned above, the Puritan roots of Massachusetts means that there isn’t all that much with regard to gambling history from the 18th and 19th centuries. With that being said, Native tribes have been playing gambling games of their own dating back to before the first settlers ever even arrived. It wasn’t until the Great Depression of the 1920s and 30s when gambling entered the mainstream to some extent. Even in those days, however, the only forms of gambling had to do with wagering on horse and dog racing, much like you will find in the history of plenty of other states.
Like Maryland, Massachusetts sees much of its casino history happening somewhat recently. In 2007, the Mashpee Native American tribe was official recognized by the Federal Government. In the wake of this, the same tribe quickly unveiled plans to establish a casino on their own lands. That measure was fought by state lawmakers and ended up not amounting to anything. Despite the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, Massachusetts tribes were unable to establish their own casinos due to a 1983 agreement that said, basically, that tribal lands were subject to state law. So, as long as casinos remained illegal under state law they would not be allowed to exist on tribal lands.
In 2011, the move to legalize casinos was thrust into hyperdrive. Even though similar legalization measures were shot down in 2008 and 2009 respectively, a measure in 2011 passed and was eventually signed into law. This allowed for the licensure of 3 casinos and one slots parlor. Clearly, the number of casinos in the state pails in comparison to what you might find in other states, but it is important to consider the relatively small size of Massachusetts. As we move forward, we anticipate that tribal gaming will gain some traction, so the future looks bright as far as the establishment of more casinos is concerned.
Massachusetts has a long history of rebellion and individualism.
The home of the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere has historically yielded passionate, hardworking, freethinking individuals.
It’s a bit surprising Massachusetts has taken so long to come to the party on casino gambling.
However, it is happening – right now.
Read on for more information about current legal gambling options in the state, how the stage is set for expansion of casino gambling in Massachusetts, and for details on how online lottery and online gambling could also be making their way to the Bay State.
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Sweepstakes casinos in Massachusetts
Social casino site options
Bay Staters can make use of all social casino sites available in most states. Slotomania, DoubleDown, BigFish, and Zynga are all available via Facebook or mobile device apps. They may also play on the Plainridge Casino site, which maintains a Play4fun network site due to the fact that the casino is owned by Penn National Gaming (which owns the Hollywood Casino chains). The advantage of playing on this site is that it allows Massachusetts residents to get a free preview of the offerings at Plainridge.
Background on expanded gambling in Massachusetts
In 2011, Massachusetts passed the Expanded Gaming Act. The law allowed for three Las Vegas-style casinos and one slots parlor to be constructed in the state. Specifically, the law divided Massachusetts into three regions. It allowed for one casino per region. Four years later, the Plainridge Park Casino (the slots parlor) opened to great fanfare in Plainville, Massachusetts. As evidence of approval for gambling in the state, the casino reached its allowed building capacity within a few hours, and cashiers were temporarily running out of money.
MGM Springfield opened on August 24, 2018, to fanfare and festivities. The nearly $1 billion property is located in the south end of Springfield and could be an economic shot in the arm for the city and region. (This is Region B under the law and covers the western third of the state.)
Encore Boston Harbor, opened June 2019. Originally named Wynn Everett and then Wynn Boston Harbor, it is a $2.5 billion property located in the Boston suburb of Everett. Under the law, this casino will serve RegionA, which is the middle third of the state. (It includes Boston, the state’s capital and largest city).
What remains is RegionC, the eastern third of the state, which includes Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. This is an important area because of the overall wealth. The lag on its development is largely due to ongoing court battles with the two federally recognized (and therefore eligible) Native American tribes in Massachusetts.
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe wants to build a $1 billion facility in Taunton. Resistance from residents is delaying the construction. At this point, it is still up in the air whether the tribe can proceed. The other tribe, the Aquinnah Wampanoag, resides on Martha’s Vineyard. They may have a better shot at approval from the court system, but nothing has been decided so far.
For now, Massachusetts can look forward to the three current mega-resorts underway in the state. In general, things have not been so dire in Massachusetts because of the state’s relatively small land area and its proximity to casinos in other states.
Residents and visitors to the state have two options in Rhode Island for slot play. There is the Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Newport Grand Casino in Newport. Beyond that, Bay Staters can also visit Connecticut’sMohegan Sun in Uncasville or Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket. All four of these casinos are fewer than two hours’ drive from most of Massachusetts.
Below is information on Massachusetts casinos and the other excellent nearby options.
Land-based slots options
Property | Location | Number of Slots |
---|---|---|
Plainridge Park Casino | Plainview, MA | 1,250 |
MGM Springfield | Springfield, MA | 2,550 |
Encore Boston Harbor | Everett, MA | 2,800+ |
Mohegan Sun Casino | Uncasville, CT | 5,000 |
Foxwoods Casino | Mashantucket, CT | 4,800 |
Massachusetts Sports Betting
As of now, sports betting has yet to materialize in the Commonwealth. However, a new bill, which would authorize sports betting for various outlets, recently passed through the House and sent on to the Senate.
Massachusetts sports betting would be authorized for:
- Three commercial casinos
- A single slot parlor
- Horse racing tracks
- 5 online-only operators
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In the Senate, though, the proposal stalled. But that does not mean hope is lost.
Massachusetts could still find a way to legalize wagering, as the legislature holds an informal session throughout the calendar year, during which time lawmakers will certainly discuss the industry’s legalization.
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Online gambling options
Cruises Out Of Boston Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not have laws directly addressing online gaming one way or the other. As in many states, the legal framework simply hasn’t caught up to reality yet.
However, Massachusetts has shown itself to be relatively agreeable to the notion of online gambling, as it was one of the few states to legalize daily fantasy sports betting. It’s possible that expansion to other forms of online gambling and sports betting will occur in the near future.
State legal environment
Permitted/Offered? | Notes & Restrictions | |
---|---|---|
Land-based Gambling | Yes | One slots parlor; two more casinos under construction |
Online Gambling | No | No law for or against |
Lottery | Yes | State and multistate drawings available |
Charitable or House-based Gambling | Yes | Raffles and bingo |
Minimum Gambling Age | 18 for horse/dog racing, lottery, bingo, and pari-mutuel; 21 for casinos |