The nascent Massachusetts sports betting industry crystallized Monday as casinos and mobile operators submitted their applications for highly coveted gaming licenses.
Fifteen entities applied ahead of the 2 pm deadline, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said in a news release later Monday afternoon. That’s just half of the 30 businesses that previously signaled their interest in sports betting licenses after completing scoping surveys by mid-October.
The applications, which are subject to the commonwealth’s public records law and will be released once the commission reviews them, come with a nonrefundable $200,000 fee. Commissioners are tasked with assessing companies’ responsible gaming plans, past sports betting experience, and employment diversity and inclusion commitments, among other factors.
As expected, Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino all submitted license applications for their brick-and-mortar establishments, which can offer mobile sports betting through up to two individually branded mobile platforms.
Encore Boston Harbor intends to partner with two online platforms, WynnBet and Caesars Sportsbook, the Gaming Commission said. MGM Springfield, meanwhile, plans to operate on BetMGM, and Plainridge Park Casino intends to collaborate with Penn Sports Interactive and Fanatics Sportsbook.
Massachusetts also plans to award up to seven mobile wagering licenses that are not linked to brick-and-mortar locations. Six operators submitted applications for standalone licenses: Bally Bet, Betr, Betway (DGC USA), DraftKings, FanDuel and Pointsbet.
Another licensing category applies to live horse racing tracks and simulcast facilities, which can also offer wagering on an individually branded mobile platform. Only Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs are eligible to seek these licenses for now and applications are open on a rolling basis.
“Both companies have indicated that while they intend to apply, they are not prepared to begin offering in-person sports wagering by January 2023,” the Massing Gaming Commission said. “However, ahead of the application deadline, Raynham Park has made the MGC aware that they will partner with bet365 to operate an online platform. Bet365 has applied ahead of the deadline.”
At a Gaming Commission meeting last week, Investigations and Enforcement Bureau Director Loretta Lillios said “all eyes” were on Monday’s application deadline.
“This is an important time for the operators. We have been meeting with them in groups by their category. We have been answering their questions, and I know that they are working hard on their applications now,” Lillios had said. “And as for our team, we are working hard to make sure that Monday goes smoothly with that initial processing.”