Jun 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) watches a shot by the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
- Bally’s planned to launch online sports betting in Massachusetts on June 27
- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission today revealed the operator still had one outstanding issue
- Its certificate of compliance meeting will now be held on Monday, July 1
Bally’s has waited more than a year to launch online sports betting in Massachusetts….what’s a few more weeks?
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) today revealed that Bally’s sports betting operator, Bally Bet, will not be launching in the commonwealth on Thursday, June 27, as once planned.
Instead, Bally’s will launch online sports betting in Massachusetts sometime during July after it receives its certificate of compliance from the MGC.
July Likely Launch Month for Bally Bet
Interim Chair Jordan Maynard explained during today’s agenda setting meeting that Bally’s has “one outstanding issue” to take care of before it can launch in the state. The operator was scheduled to receive its certificate of compliance during a meeting tomorrow and launch on the same day.
Instead, the sports betting operator will have its certificate of compliance hearing on Monday, July 1, and likely launch soon thereafter.
Bally’s received its initial category 3 sports betting license from the commission in January 2023, but never launched. It re-upped its temporary license with the commission in January for a $1 million renewal fee.
In March, Bally’s representatives revealed to Bruce Band, director of sports betting for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, that it was eyeing an online sports betting launch in the state by the tail end of the second quarter of 2024.
The company representatives said the delay was due in part to first focusing on their iGaming launch in Rhode Island.
Discussion on Player Limits in August
The MGC also set a date of Aug. 1 to hold initial discussions on the practice of player limits. This comes a week after the commission members agreed to host another roundtable meeting with sports betting operators to discuss the topic of player limits.
Commission members noted the importance of figuring out exactly what they need to ask sports betting operators to get to the bottom of the controversial practice. Every licensed operator in the state, except for Bally’s, no-showed an initial roundtable discussion of the practice that was set for May.
The MGC will discuss the practice on Aug. 1 and figure out exactly the information it wants from operators during the yet-to-be-scheduled open meeting.
Maynard revealed last week that all seven of the licensed sportsbooks in the commonwealth agreed to attend the next roundtable.
Rob covers all regulatory developments in online gambling. He specializes in US sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.
Bally Bet, the online sports betting platform from Bally’s Corporation, was set to launch in Massachusetts this spring. However, due to regulatory delays, the launch is now expected to be pushed back until July.
The delay comes as a disappointment to many sports betting enthusiasts in the state who were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Bally Bet. The platform, which offers a wide range of betting options on sports events from around the world, has been highly anticipated since it was first announced.
The delay is reportedly due to the need for additional regulatory approvals before Bally Bet can go live in Massachusetts. While this setback is frustrating for both the company and its customers, it is not uncommon in the world of online gambling where regulatory hurdles can often slow down the launch of new platforms.
Despite the delay, Bally’s Corporation remains committed to bringing Bally Bet to Massachusetts as soon as possible. The company has already invested significant resources into developing the platform and is eager to start offering its services to customers in the state.
In the meantime, sports betting enthusiasts in Massachusetts can continue to place bets through other online platforms that are already operational in the state. However, many are still looking forward to the launch of Bally Bet and the unique features and promotions that it is expected to offer.
Overall, while the delay in Bally Bet’s launch in Massachusetts is disappointing, it is a temporary setback that is likely to be resolved in the coming months. Once the platform goes live, customers can expect a high-quality sports betting experience with a wide range of betting options and competitive odds.
