Bally Bet becomes Massachusetts’ seventh sports betting operator

Article by : Charles Perrin Jul 8, 2024

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Bally Bet has become the latest online sportsbook to roll out its operations in Massachusetts.

In going live, Bally Bet has become the seventh betting platform to launch in the Bay State, joining a highly competitive market that also includes BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics, and FanDuel.

After undergoing rigorous checks, Bally Bet was issued with a sports operation certificate from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), marking the final hurdle in a process that had been a year-and-a-half in the making.

Having also satisfied the MGC’s geolocation and banking structures, Bally Bet was awarded a Category 3 license. This requires the operator to pay a non-refundable $200,000 application fee and complete a scope of licensing survey.

While the recent departures of Betr and Wynn Bet brought the number of active MA platforms from an earlier high of eight down to six, the decision by Bally Bet represents a signal of intent on their part.

Reacting to the news, Brett Calapp, Bally’s chief operating officer, said: “We’re super excited to go live in Massachusetts, a state with such a rich sports history, a state where sports are part of the fabric of the community.”

Bally Bet, which is also available in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Ohio, and Virginia, is joining MA at a time when market conditions are very favorable.

According to the latest data released by the Gaming Commission, MA operators claimed $587.2 million in total sports betting handle in May 2024, which was up from $454.9 million for the same month last year.

This translated to $57 million chalked up collectively in taxable gaming revenue, although DraftKings remains the dominant player in the market, capturing half of all betting action in May 2024.

It has been a busy past month for Bally Bet, and its parent company, Bally’s Corporation, signed up for the Responsible Online Gaming Association (RGA) which has focussed on promoting sensible gaming by funding independently peer-reviewed research.

With more options now available to MA sports bettors, it is certainly an exciting time for Bally Bet to launch in the state, and it appears to be on the right trajectory.