Sarah | November 29, 2020 | Updated on: April 26th, 2021
Casinos in Massachusetts are legal, meaning you can play in the Bay State. Massachusetts has a few brick-and-mortar casinos, and there are two additional tribal casinos in the pipeline.
If you enjoy betting on horses, there is a horse racing track that hosts harness racing events regularly. Daily fantasy sports have also recently been made legal, so you can enjoy that too.
Below we look at all things gambling in Massachusetts and list the best US online casinos to help you get started.
Best Online Casinos in the USA
Massachusetts Gambling Links
- Best Online Casinos in the USA
- Gambling in Massachusetts
- Gambling Laws in Massachusetts
- Commercial Casinos in Massachusetts
- Popular FAQs about Gambling in Massachusetts
Gambling in Massachusetts
Gambling in Massachusetts is actually a lot more diverse than people are led to believe. Although the first casino in the state only opened its doors in 2015, more are on the way.
Currently, casinos in the state only offer players slots, video poker, and electronic table games. But new casinos will be able to offer poker, craps, roulette, and an assortment of traditional card games too.
In addition to the casinos, many bars and “slot parlors” across the state also offer gambling games.
Outside of casino gaming, there are some other gambling options available, including:
- Daily fantasy sports
- Massachusetts Lottery (keno draws are held every four minutes)
- Horse racing (Suffolk Downs and Plainridge Park are the two racetracks)
- Charity gambling (charities can host bingo events, raffles, and casino nights to raise funds)
Sports betting is not legal in Massachusetts. However, trends have shown that states with legal daily fantasy sports soon legalize sports betting too.
Gambling Laws in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission handles all gambling in Massachusetts. The Bay State is very progressive in some areas of gambling.
For example, you can buy a subscription to a lottery game for no longer than a year. This means you don’t have to buy a single ticket every week to play the Powerball or Mega Millions.
However, they still lag in online gambling, which is largely unavailable in the state. Yes, you can play daily fantasy sports games online, and off-track betting is also available.
You can’t play casino games remotely, which is quite unfortunate if you don’t live near a land-based casino.
Commercial Casinos in Massachusetts
Currently, there are three casinos and one racino spread across Massachusetts. According to MA gambling laws, the state is split into three regions, and only one casino may operate in each region.
There was an attempt by MG&E in 2019 to circumvent that law to launch another casino-style gaming facility in MA. However, it failed.
So, for now, it seems players in Massachusetts are limited to the gambling locations listed below:
| Casino | Address |
| MGM Springfield | 1441 Main Street |
| Plainridge Racecourse and Casino | 301 Washington Street |
| FirstLight Casino Resort | Routes 24 & Route 140 |
| Encore Boston Harbor Casino (Wynn Resorts) | 1 Horizon Way |
Top Casinos in Massachusetts
MGM Casino Springfield Massachusetts
One MGM Way
Springfield, MA 01103
Contact
413 273 5000
Plainridge Park Casino
301 Washington Street
Plainville, MA 02762
Contact
844-327-4347
Encore Boston Harbor Casino
One Broadway
Everett, MA 02149
Contact
(857) 770-7000
[email protected]
Tribal Casinos in Massachusetts
Tribal casinos in Massachusetts have been on a rocky road to realization. The two federally recognized tribes in that state have been at loggerheads with the government. Previously, the government refused to issue casino licenses for tribal establishments.
After lengthy legal battles, both the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head in Aquinnah came out victorious. Now we await the completion of the tribal casinos on reservations, which will add to the casinos list in Massachusetts.
Popular FAQs about Gambling in Massachusetts
There is a total of three casinos in Massachusetts. However, two additional tribal casinos are in the works.
The legal age for gambling in Massachusetts is 21 for casinos and daily fantasy sports. However, you can play the lottery and bingo games at 18.
Encore Boston Harbor Casino is considered a casino in Boston, Massachusetts. In Everett, MA, the casino lies just about 5 miles from Boston.
The MGM Springfield Casino has been open since August 2018.
No, online gambling is not legal in Massachusetts.
Check out our other state guides: