Unlike the majority of states in America, it's hard to say where exactly Massachusetts stands when it comes to gambling.

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Technically, online casinos are not allowed to operate in the state, yet there is no set law against them.

Massachusetts has three full-service casinos – one just north of Boston, a second south of Boston, and a third in western city of Springfield. All three offer extensive slots and table games, and the Plainridge.

However, residents of the Bay State are permitted to gamble at land-based casinos as well as place wagers on horse races. There's also a state lottery, and charitable gaming allowed.

The legality of gambling has always been somewhat of a question mark in Massachusetts. However, the industry is growing with multiple new casino resorts opening over the past fewyears.

1. Massachusetts Legal Online Gambling 2021. Massachusetts legal online gambling is currently available only via international operators, as there are no domestic options in the state. Massachusetts may not have any legal online gambling options right now, but MA gambling laws allow a variety of legal gambling.
2. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) supports gambling that is expanding enable recreations wagering. But lawmakers within the Boston money continue steadily to wait its arrival. There’s been numerous unsuccessful legislative efforts to legalize recreations wagering in Massachusetts.

Could online casinos see the day where they can operate legally in MA? What are residents meant to do for their gaming needs in the meantime?

Let's take a look.

OnlineCasinos in Massachusetts

Online casinos are not legal in Massachusetts yet, however, the laws behind it are a little more complex than other states.

While casinos could face punishment for trying to operate online, the state is more lenient towards players.

If you are gambling online and win $5+, you could be fined twice of what you won. The same applies for if you lose $5 or more.

This means technically if you can keep it under $5, you shouldn't find yourself in any trouble with the law.

Massachusetts is more interested in legalizing online sports betting, but hopefully, online casinos will follow shortly after.

Land-Based Casinos in Massachusetts

Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill in late 2011 that legalized casinos in Massachusetts.

The law allowed three casinos in three different geographic regions, plus one slot parlor.

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That slot parlor, Plainridge Park Casino, is a harness racing track located about 40 miles southwest of Boston and opened on June 24, 2015.

Gaming regulations for Massachusetts casinos require a minimum payback of 80% on all gaming machines. The payback percentages for slot machines at all casinos in Massachusetts are released as amatter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for allMassachusetts casinos.

NOTE: If you happen to win a jackpot of $600 or more in Massachusetts, the casino will withhold 5% and send it to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

You may, however, be able to get some of that money refunded by filing a state income tax return.

The $600 threshold also applies to any cash prizes won in casino drawings or tournaments, as well as the fair market value of non-cash prizes such as cars, houses, and trips.

Types of Casinos in Massachusetts

The first resort-casino license in Region B (Western Massachusetts) was awarded to MGM Resorts and their $1.3 billion casino - MGM Springfield - opened in late 2018.

The second license for Region A (Eastern Massachusetts) was awarded to Wynn Resorts and the $2 billion Encore Boston Harbor opened in 2019.

The Encore Casino is the closest casino to Boston.

The final license for Region C (Southeastern Massachusetts) had not yet been awarded as of 2020.

Indian Casinos

There are two tribes in Massachusetts currently battling the government for the right to build a casino on their land.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is planning to build a destination resort casino near Taunton. That facility, First Light Casino, was expected to open by early 2019.

However, the project has been hampered by lawsuits that have stopped it from being completed.

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) also had plans to open a casino in an old community center back in 2013 which was stopped due to the state claiming the tribe had given up theirland in 1993.

The Aquinnah fought back by saying the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act had overseen this and ended up winning the battle in 2018.

Both tribes are still in the planning process for the gaming venues.

Pari-Mutuel Betting

Horse racing is one of the oldest forms of legal gambling in Massachusetts.

Dog racing was legal from the 1930s up until 2010 when the Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act deemed it illegal.

Today, there is only one horse race track that accepts pari-mutuel wagering in MA; Plainridge Racecourse. Residents can go watch live horse races from April to November.

The other tracks, Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs, offer simulcast wagering on races.

List Of Land-Based Casinos In Massachusetts

Click on any of the casinos listed below to learn more about each.

Encore Boston Harbor

• 1 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149
• 1 857-770-7000
• Games: Slot Machines, Table Games (blackjack, roulette, craps, poker), High Limit

First Light Resort & Casino

Not Open

Horizon's Edge Casino Cruises - Massachusetts

Permanently Closed

MGM Springfield

• One MGM Way, Springfield, MA 01103
• 1 413-273-5000
• Games: Slot machines, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Pai Gow, three card poker, four card poker, Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em, War, Big 6, Let It Ride, and Spanish 21

Plainridge Park Casino

• 301 Washington St, Plainville, MA 02762
• 1 508-576-4500
• Games: Electronic Machines

Massachusetts Land-Based Casinos Map

You can easily see all casino locations by using our Massachusetts casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just click the –(minus) sign in the same area.

To move the map of casinos in Massachusetts, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire.

Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click againon the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casinosize, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.

History of Gambling in Massachusetts

Gambling has been around in Massachusetts longer than it's even been a state.

However, it was deemed illegal fairly early on, with games of chance and gaming tables first to go in 1788.

In the early 1830s, all remaining forms of gambling were prohibited, including the lottery.

It wasn't until over a century later in the 1970s that the lottery was legal again.

Horse and dog racing became legal in the 1930s and became a very popular form of gambling in MA. Across the country, MA was the hotspot for greyhound racing for a long time.

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By 2009, The Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act had banned dog races and wagering on them in the state.

Massachusetts has always been very slow when it came to regulating gambling in the state, and only really began to build the industry in 2011.

This is the year casinos were legalized, allowing three resorts and one slot parlor to operate.

There used to be river casino boats before land-based gambling was legal, but that stopped shortly after the new laws were put in place.

Massachusetts Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations

Recently, the gambling laws in Massachusetts have changed to allow potential expansion of the industry in the state.

Thanks to the Expanded Gambling Act that was passed in 2011, casinos were allowed to open and offer slots and video poker machines, as well as table games. Since live dealer games weren'tallowed at the time, all of the games where played on game machines.

Two Indian tribes are also still in the process of planning and constructing their own facilities.

You must be at least 18 years old to wager on horse races, play bingo, and participate in the lottery. Casinos require patrons to be at least 21 years of age.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) oversees all forms of gambling in the state.

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This includes:

• Casino gambling
• Pari-mutuel betting
• Lottery
• Raffles/Charitable games

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The MGC is responsible for a number of services, like licensing for operators and employees and enforcing the regulations they have put in place.

To read more about the MGC and what they do, clickhere.

Gambling in Massachusetts Today

In Massachusetts today, there is a great possibility of the gambling industry growing even more. Advocates are trying to push the legalization of sports betting, and are very close towinning.

If sports betting was legalized in MA, this would open the door to online gambling and potentially include online casinos.

For now, MA does offer a few land-based casinos and racetracks. In time, this number should grow as well, especially once sports betting is deemed legal in the state.

Fun Facts

Did you know?

The Encore Boston is currently the largest casino in Massachusetts, with 2800 game machines! However, Project First Light Resort & Casino could take this title once it opens, with over3000 gaming options expected to be available.

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