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Massachusetts has a long history of rebellion and individualism.

Online poker in Pennsylvania is played strictly on licensed sites, and owners paid huge application fee to offer these games to public. Participating is safe for both sides - casino and player. Fast and guaranteed payments via different methods are distinctive features of online poker for real money, in case you succeed in game, of course. Massachusetts was another state on the verge of becoming legal in 2019 and 2020. There were attempts to regulate online gambling, fantasy sports and sports betting. But alas it did not happen, and talks have been further delayed because of the pandemic.

The home of the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere has historically yielded passionate, hardworking, freethinking individuals.

1. GameSense is an innovative and comprehensive responsible gaming strategy adopted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to help keep gambling fun for all players.
2. Nevada was the first US state to legalize and regulate online poker. It all started with regulations drafted by the Nevada Gaming Commission on Dec. An opinion letter written by the Department of Justice became public the following day stating that online poker did not violate the Wire Act.

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.

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

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

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.

Poker Massachusetts

Online gambling options

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

Massachusetts Online Poker Laws