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In-person sports betting is planned to start in Massachusetts in late January, more than a month ahead of digital wagering, and the state’s regulator has begun giving some of the key approvals to make it happen.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday made Encore Boston Harbor the first of the state’s three casinos to be approved for a retail sportsbook license. Earlier in the week, the commission delayed action on the retail applications from PENN Entertainment’s Plainridge Park and from MGM Springfield. The deferral for now on Plainridge Park came amid concerns raised by commissioners about PENN’s Barstool Sportsbook and its reliance on controversial Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, as outlined in a recent article.
The Massachusetts regulator may give more scrutiny to the PENN-Portnoy relationship than has been the case in other states, but the unusual partnership hasn’t interfered with any licensing processes elsewhere, and it would be surprising if sports bettors can’t end up placing wagers next year at Plainridge Park like other venues. The' commission could end up deciding that issue next week.