Best online sportsbook Massachusetts comes with a twist most states don't have: the market leader is headquartered inside the state it leads. DraftKings is a Boston company, and its grip on Massachusetts handle is tighter than its grip on almost any other legal market in the country.
Massachusetts Legalized Mobile Betting in August 2022
Governor Charlie Baker signed House Bill 5164 on August 10, 2022, after years of the legislature stalling on a bill. Retail sportsbooks opened first, on January 31, 2023, inside the state's existing casinos. Online wagering followed about six weeks later, on March 10, 2023, under the oversight of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which licenses and audits every operator taking bets in the state.
Is DraftKings Legit in Massachusetts? Home Turf Backs It Up
Legitimacy here isn't a marketing claim, it's a revenue filing. DraftKings is based in Boston, and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's own monthly handle reports show it outpacing FanDuel by roughly two-to-one most months in 2026. FanDuel still posted a real number of its own — $158.6 million in May, about $144.4 million in August — enough to hold a solid second place, just not enough to close the home-state gap.
Why Two Apps Already Left the Massachusetts Market
Massachusetts built room for up to 15 online licenses — seven untethered, eight tied to a casino partner — but not every operator that got one stayed. WynnBet shut its Massachusetts app down on February 12, 2026, giving existing customers a 30-day window to pull their money out. Betr, which had been running on a temporary license, chose not to renew it. Neither exit moved DraftKings or FanDuel's numbers much; both were minor players competing for scraps below the top two.
Massachusetts sports betting, by the numbers
- Enabling law: House Bill 5164, signed August 10, 2022
- Retail launch: January 31, 2023
- Online launch: March 10, 2023
- Regulator: Massachusetts Gaming Commission
- Active online brands: 7 as of 2026 (up to 15 licenses allowed)
- Online tax rate: 20% of gross gaming revenue
- College betting: in-state teams barred outside tournament play; player props banned statewide
Is Sports Betting Safe in Massachusetts? One Regulator, No Shortcuts
Every app on this page answers to the same regulator — the Massachusetts Gaming Commission — under the same 2022 law. There is no second-tier or offshore path that counts as legal here; an app either holds an MGC license or it is not a legal option for a Massachusetts resident. The commission also wrote in a specific consumer protection most states skip: no regular-season betting on in-state college teams like Boston College or UMass, and no college player props at all, for any team.
Worth Betting Legally in Massachusetts in 2026?
Yes, for anyone 21 or older physically in the state. DraftKings is the obvious first download given its home-state advantage, FanDuel the obvious second, and BetMGM or Caesars cover anyone who wants a different national brand under the same license. This is still 21-and-over entertainment with a built-in house edge, not an income source — the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-327-5050 or text GAMB to the same number, is free and confidential around the clock.
The short list
- 1. DraftKings — Headquartered in Boston, and it shows in the numbers
DraftKings is based in Boston and carried about 49% of Massachusetts' own mobile handle in May 2026 ($306.5 million of $632.1 million statewide), then ran roughly $275.1 million of the state's $571.2 million handle in August 2026 — a home-state share well above its national average.
- 2. FanDuel — A clear second, with DraftKings combining for most of the market
FanDuel settled $158.6 million in Massachusetts online handle in May 2026 (25.4% share) and about $144.4 million in August 2026; together with DraftKings it accounts for roughly three-quarters to four-fifths of all money wagered in the state.
- 3. BetMGM — A licensed national alternative under the same MGC framework
BetMGM has operated continuously since Massachusetts online wagering launched March 10, 2023, licensed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission alongside the other national sportsbooks, without the exits that hit WynnBet and Betr.
- 4. Caesars Sportsbook — One of the original operators live at the March 2023 launch
Caesars Sportsbook was among the first wave of apps the Massachusetts Gaming Commission licensed for the state's March 10, 2023 online debut and has run without interruption since.
The honest verdict
DraftKings is the practical first download for a Massachusetts bettor, and not just because of brand loyalty — it settled about $306.5 million of the state's $632.1 million total handle in May 2026, a 49% share, and ran roughly $275.1 million in August 2026 on a $571.2 million statewide total. FanDuel is the steady second choice, at $158.6 million (25.4%) in May and about $144.4 million in August. BetMGM, Caesars, and Fanatics are the licensed alternatives for anyone who wants a different app under the same Massachusetts Gaming Commission oversight; theScore Bet and Bally Bet round out the current seven-operator field after WynnBet shut down its Massachusetts app in February 2026 and Betr chose not to renew its license. None of this is a way to make money — it is 21-and-over entertainment with a built-in house edge, and the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-327-5050 (or text GAMB to the same number), is free, confidential, and staffed around the clock.
Questions this list actually answers
What is the best online sportsbook in Massachusetts?
DraftKings, on current volume — the Boston-headquartered operator carried about 49% of Massachusetts' mobile handle in May 2026. FanDuel is a clear second at roughly 25%. BetMGM and Caesars are the strongest licensed alternatives if you want a different app under the same state oversight.
Is online sports betting legal in Massachusetts?
Yes. Governor Charlie Baker signed House Bill 5164 on August 10, 2022, retail sports betting launched January 31, 2023, and online wagering followed March 10, 2023. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission licenses and regulates every operator, and mobile revenue is taxed at 20%.
Why did WynnBet and Betr leave Massachusetts?
WynnBet shut down its Massachusetts mobile app on February 12, 2026, giving customers 30 days to withdraw funds, and Betr chose not to renew its temporary operating license. Massachusetts allows up to 15 total online licenses (seven untethered, eight tied to a land-based partner), but the market has consolidated around the operators actually generating volume.
Can you bet on Massachusetts college teams?
Only in a limited way. Sportsbooks cannot take regular-season bets on in-state schools like Boston College, UMass, or Harvard, but betting opens up if that team is in a tournament of four or more teams, such as the NCAA Tournament. Player props on any college athlete, in-state or not, are banned statewide under House Bill 5164.
How many legal online sportsbooks operate in Massachusetts?
Seven brands hold active online licenses as of 2026: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics, theScore Bet, and Bally Bet. The state's framework allows for more, but WynnBet and Betr both exited the market in early 2026.