On Tuesday, Bally Bet announced the launch of its sports gambling platform in Massachusetts and will now become the seventh mobile sportsbook in the Bay State.
Better Late Than Never
Bally Bet has held a temporary license in Massachusetts for nearly 18 months but in keeping with the company’s strategy in other states, it decided to wait it out and let the other platforms spend substantial sums of money on promotions and bonuses in their quest to secure early adopters.
The Rhode Island-based gaming company planned to go live in June but a technical snag prompted a slight delay until the Massachusetts Gaming Commission unanimously approved Bally’s operations certificate on Monday, which triggered the launch the following day.
At the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s July 1st meeting, Brett Calapp, Bally COO of North American Interactive, stated after receiving regulatory approval, “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. We can’t wait to participate in the entertainment, the fun, and the excitement of sports in your state.”
Massachusetts Betting Landscape
The Massachusetts sports betting market is robust but it is dominated by a local entry, Boston-based DraftKings, that routinely captures over 50% of the market. Massachusetts sports betting regulations allow up to 17 mobile sportsbooks but the most it had was eight before Betr and WynnBet exited the market.
The total number of online sportsbooks in the Bay State is now seven with Bally Bet joining BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN Bet, Fanatics Sportsbook, and FanDuel.
“Congratulations to Bally’s and thank you for being another legal entity in the market here in Massachusetts,” said Jordan Maynard, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission interim executive director.
Bally’s Join ROGA
In another move, Bally’s joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association much to the approval of regulators everywhere. The association now consists of eight major platform providers throughout the nation including top-rated sportsbooks like bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Hard Rock Digital, and PENN Entertainment.
Robeson Reeves, Chief Executive Officer of Bally’s Corporation, said, “We are proud to join the Responsible Online Gaming Association as a founding member, alongside some of the industry’s leading companies. At Bally’s, we are committed to promoting responsible gaming and empowering our customers to make informed decisions about their online play.
“By collaborating with ROGA and its members, we can enhance responsible gaming initiatives, fund research, develop best practices, and educate consumers. Together, we will strive to create a safer and more enjoyable online gaming environment for all.”
Dr. Jennifer Shatley, executive director of ROGA, was delighted at Bally’s decision to join the collective, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Bally’s as a founding member of ROGA — further demonstrating the collaborative effort of the iGaming and online sports betting industry to keep all forms of online gaming entertaining and fun for every American.”
