The Massachusetts Gaming Commission issued temporary sports wagering operator licenses to six standalone digital wagering applicants on Thursday, paving the way for the launch of mobile sports betting in March ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
The MGC approved temporary licenses for Bally Bet, Betr,'Betway,'DraftKings,'FanDuel, and'PointsBet, which all gave detailed presentations to the commission this month. The commissioners’ votes were unanimous except in the case of Betr, a sports betting newcomer that touts its innovative microbetting platform. MGC Commissioner Eileen O’Brien voted against Betr while commenting that co-founder Jake Paul’s celebrity status could increase problem gambling among younger sports bettors.
The MGC announced last month that it intends to go live with mobile sports wagering in March. It has targeted Jan. 31 for the launch of retail sports betting, giving brick-and-mortar sportsbooks a head start over their digital counterparts.