It has to be easy to be a sports fan in Boston. The New England Patriots built a dynasty with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick winning 6 Super Bowl Championships for the city between 2001 and 2018. Then, on top of the Patriots, the Boston Red Sox have won 4 World Series of their own in the two decades, while the Boston Bruins have also brought home the Stanley Cup as the NHL’s champions and remain a contender every year. Add in the fact that the Celtics are the winningest team in the history of the NBA, while making it to the NBA Finals in 2022 and continuing to be contenders in the East and you really have to count your blessings as a Boston sports fan.
With all of this success it should come as no surprise that sports betting has become a huge part of the sports culture in Boston. Even with the rise of sports betting and it’s social acceptance in recent years there are still a lot of questions surrounding betting on sports in the United States. I will answer these questions below, starting with the question of sports betting legality and also providing information on the best sportsbooks online where Americans can place their wagers. I’ll also touch on some Boston specific sports betting info, such as offline betting opportunities in the city.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Boston?
Yes, sports betting is legal in Massachusetts. A sports betting bill passed at the end of the 2022 legislative session and was signed by the Governor in August of 2022.
Retail sports betting launched in Massachusetts in January of 2023, and regulated online sports betting launched in March of 2023. There are currently six regulated online sportsbooks operating in the state.
Boston residents also still have the option to bet on sports at offshore betting sites that are licensed and regulated outside the state of Massachusetts.
Below, I’ve outlined two offshore betting sites where Boston residents can place wagers online. These offshore sportsbooks are regulated and licensed outside of the United States and they are both popular, safe and secure options for Boston sports bettors.
Best Sportsbooks for Boston Residents
- Built for American bettors
- Wide variety of competitive betting lines
- Easy to navigate betting platform
These are our top two betting sites for Boston residents. The two sites are both safe, secure and well respected sports betting operators who are primarily focused on the United States betting market. This focus on the USA enables each site to offer betting options Americans are interested in, banking options that are easy to use for US residents and great customer support.
Check out the reviews of either Bovada or BetOnline for more information.
Offline Sports Betting in Boston
Retail sportsbooks were allowed to launch in Massachusetts in January of 2023.
Encore Boston Harbor
The Encore Boston Harbor was the first location to open a retail sportsbook in Boston with their WynnBET retail sportsbook opening in late January 2023. The sportsbook features over 70 televisions including a massive video wall and betting windows opened daily from 3-11pm with longer hours available on busy betting days/nights.
Suffolk Downs
Massachusetts also allows you to place horse racing bets at the track and Boston is home to Suffolk Downs, a small former racetrack, but one that allows you to place bets on races across the USA.
The Suffolk Downs horse racing track is located a quick 10 minute jaunt north of downtown Boston, directly north of the Boston airport. The racetrack closed for live racing in June of 2019, but the facility is still open for simulcast betting 5 days a week. Simulcasting allows you to wager on horse races from across the United States and watch them in real time at the Suffolk Downs track.
If you can’t make it to Suffolk Downs for simulcast racing, both Bovada and BetOnline accept bets on horses from across the USA.
Major Sports Teams in Boston
- Boston Bruins (Hockey – NHL)
- Boston Celtics (Basketball – NBA)
- Boston Red Sox (Baseball – MLB)
- New England Patriots (Football – NFL)
- New England Revolution (Soccer – MLS)
How To Bet Online From Boston – 3 Steps
Follow this three step guide to bet on sports online from anywhere in Boston at offshore sportsbook Bovada.lv.
Step 1. Open A Bovada.lv Account
Click the above link and complete the overlay sign up form on the home page to open your account.
Step 2. Deposit
Log into your new Bovada account and click the ‘Deposit’ link under your accounts drop down menu. Select your preferred deposit method, enter the amount, and follow the instructions to fund your account.
Bovada accepts deposits via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, MatchPay and more.
Step 3. Place Your Bets
- Click ‘Sports’ from the top navigation bar on the Bovada website.
- Select the sport you want to bet from the ‘All Sports A-Z’ menu.
- Select the competition or league to narrow your search from the left sidebar.
- Select the odds of the bet you want to make to add it to your Bet Slip.
- Enter your risk amount on the Bet Slip and click ‘Place Bet’ to lock in the wager.
That’s it. Ready to bet? Click here to visit Bovada.lv.