What’s the current legal status of casino gambling in Massachusetts? Many gambling forms are permitted in this state, but only when done in-person in licensed venues.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is the regulatory body that decides which establishments can run gambling operations. At the moment, the Commission allows only two commercial casinos in the state. In those venues, visitors can put their money on games like roulette, blackjack, and slots. On top of that, there’s one more casino where only slots are allowed.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission also permits tribal casinos to operate. Sports betting is not allowed in Massachusetts (although this might change in 2021); however, horse racing betting is. There are two racetracks in the state where parimutuel betting is allowed, as well as one former greyhound racing track that offers simulcast betting.
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Fun Facts About Massachusetts
Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg – this is not a mistake, it’s a real name of a lake in Massachusetts. With 45 letters, this is the longest name of any place in the county. If you’re wondering how it got its name, we can assure you it didn’t happen by someone slamming their head on the keyboard. The name actually comes from the language of Nipmuc Indians, who used to rule these lands in the past. The word translates roughly to “lake divided by islands.”
Another fun fact about Massachusetts is that this state is the birthplace of both basketball and volleyball. Basketball was invented by James Naismith in Springfield, MA in 1891. Four years later, William G. Morgan invented volleyball in Holyoke, MA, which is only about ten miles away from the place where basketball was born.
With a pivotal role in the creation of some of America’s favorite sports, it’s strange that Massachusetts is not a sports betting-friendly state. Sports wagering is illegal, but betting on horse and dog races is legal in this state. It’s been like that for almost 90 years as these activities were decriminalized in the 1930s.
Gambling Venues in Massachusetts
Online gambling in Massachusetts remains illegal. Internet casinos with real-money games like online roulette or blackjack are not allowed. The only way to gamble in this state is to visit one of the three licensed venues.
Two of those are resort casinos where you can play all kinds of traditional casino games. The casinos in question are Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield. There’s also one slot parlor where no other games are allowed apart from fruit machines. It’s the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, a town near the state border with Rhode Island.
Indian gaming is allowed in Massachusetts, but at the moment, there are no operational casinos owned by Native American tribes. However, that’s likely to change in a few years’ time as two tribes are waiting for a nod from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to start constructing their casinos.
Massachusetts is the home to two racetracks where it’s possible to make parimutuel bets on horseracing and greyhound racing events. The two racetracks are Plainridge Racecourse and Suffolk Downs. In addition, there is also Raynham Park, a former dog racing track that now offers simulcast betting on horse races and greyhound races.
Frequently Asked Questions
The law does not explicitly state that online gaming is illegal in the state. Online gambling is not prohibited or regulated in Massachusetts, though sweepstakes poker and sweepstakes casinos are legal in Massachusetts. Since the state authorities have never applied the general gambling laws to online gambling in the state, online bettors are allowed to play their favorite casino games at offshore casino sites.
The minimum age requirement to participate in charitable gambling, state-licensed lotteries, scratchers, and pari-mutuel betting is 18 years old. To participate in casino gambling, poker tournaments, and racinos, you must be at least 21 years old.
Yes. However, you must conduct a thorough search on the internet because you want to make sure that the offshore website is legit and there is no risk of being defrauded, or that your personal details will be compromised. To confirm the authenticity of the offshore website, you can read several reviews online. Some additional tips to ensuring safety when playing on offshore sites in Massachusetts include: using only a personal device to place bets, wagering an amount you can afford to lose, ensuring that your antivirus is up to date before accessing the offshore site and using a strong password which you must never share with anyone.
The casino industry is a very competitive one, this is why the selection of games on each online casino website varies. To play any of your favorite casino games including blackjack, baccarat, and poker, you only have to select a reputable offshore casino- while ensuring your safety, complete the sign-up process, and you are all set. Just make sure that you understand the game and its associated terms and conditions before playing.
