Sports fans in Massachusetts have long had a voracious appetite for sports and the potential for betting on games. The recent launch of online sportsbooks showcased that potential with more than 406,000 accounts established over launch weekend alone.
Competitive sportsbooks have lined up to gain their foothold in the Massachusetts market, with lucrative welcome bonuses offered across the board.
I downloaded several Massachusetts sports betting apps to compare and contrast how their launch is going in the first week in the Commonwealth.
FanDuel Massachusetts
From my experience, FanDuel simply has the best user experience of the MA betting apps. Downloading and using the FanDuel Massachusetts app is seamless, especially for those who already have a FanDuel DFS account, since your funds carry over.
The promotions and odds boosts are available right on the front interface of the app and it’s easy to figure out how to use Same Game Parlays.
FanDuel gives you choices on those parlays, with varying odds. You can move the numbers in whichever direction you please, and the odds adjust accordingly. For example, using this strategy, I was able to parlay six NBA players to score 10-plus points with a +250 payout.
What makes it stand out is the presence of live picture and animations of games that can help bettors follow the action even if they aren’t watching.
DraftKings Massachusetts
A Boston-based company, DraftKings Sportsbook Massachusetts offered new state boosts that were specific to Massachusetts bettors.
For example, the platform offered a special bet on the Celtics to score a single point in Monday night’s game vs. the Rockets. It was easy to place money on this promo, as it was displayed right on the home screen.
In addition, like most books, DraftKings is offering bonus bets that give the user an equivalent credit back to use on bets within the app.
The initial depositing process was easy and the deposit bonus will be paid out incrementally.
The best part about the DraftKings app is live betting. The interface makes it easy to scroll between tabs and games to bet on player props or game props while the game is taking place.
BetMGM Massachusetts
The BetMGM Sportsbook Massachusetts app is user-friendly and easy to download. Access betting markets took only a matter of seconds, and Same Game Parlays are easy to use. The live betting and live streaming options were also easy to access.
There are a ton of markets available at BetMGM for most sports, but the promotions aren’t quite as lucrative as those offered at DraftKings and FanDuel at this time. However, the odds boosts are just as good, with frequent jump specials that can provide excellent value.
In the long run, BetMGM seems like it will be a worthy app to use once the initial bonuses have been settled.
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Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts
Compared to the other platforms, there were a few more hiccups downloading the Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts app.
Location confirmation and multi-step verification took a bit more time than when using the DraftKings or FanDuel apps. Although, that could be because I already had DFS accounts with those companies.
There are big rewards available once the app is downloaded, including a welcome bonus of up to $1,500 in betting credit.
Live betting isn’t great on Caesars, and there are some limitations on how much handle can be placed on bets with odds boosts.
WynnBET Massachusetts
The other local app in Massachusetts is linked to the Encore Harbor Casino in Everett, where bettors can visit the 100 sports betting kiosks and place bets in person.
WynnBET Massachusetts is generally an app that rewards in-person betting and experiential gambling, with bonuses related to staying at the hotel and casino.
WynnBET is a bit smaller than the other titans of online sports betting, so the bonuses and promotions aren’t quite as lucrative, and the odds boosts aren’t necessarily as juicy in terms of potential payouts.
However, the app is user-friendly with the ability to bookmark games of interest. Access to your open bets is also very easy.
Overall conclusions on MA sportsbook apps
Downloading multiple apps in a state where sports betting recently became legalized is a good way to leverage the competition and gives bettors the ability to shop lines.
While some of these apps offer more appealing promotions, there are incentives for new bettors to get involved with any and all of the books.
Some of the bugs and hang-ups that have provided minor inconveniences should be cleaned up in the coming weeks as Massachusetts moves beyond the launch.
Here are my top-3 favorite options so far during the first week of Massachusetts sports betting:
- FanDuel
- BetMGM
- DraftKings
When signing up, don’t forget to check out the MA sports betting promos that each platform offers for new users.
If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call 1-800-327-5050 or visit www.mahelpline.org/problemgambling to speak with a trained specialist for free, 24/7