The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has delayed its review of Raynham Park’s application to open a retail Caesars Sportsbook. That review was originally set for March 28. It will now take place April 12.
That revelation came during Thursday’s open meeting of the MGC. A scheduling conflict prevented a commissioner from being present for the review on March 28. So the MGC delayed it to April 12, the next first-available time slot.
Raynham Park announced its partnership with Caesars for a retail Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts back in January. Its retail license application has been filed for nearly two months now.
“The applicant is eager to get going,” MGC Executive Director Karen Wells told commissioners Thursday.
Caesars Raynham Park contract under scrutiny
While the Caesars Raynham Park application won’t begin its review until April 12, the contract between Raynham Park and Caesars Entertainment will still undergo its review in March.
Raynham Park and Caesars Entertainment essentially formed a joint application for a retail sports betting license, so the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau wants to take a closer look at the contract between the two entities.
If it’s approved, the Caesars Sportsbook at Raynham Park will be one of the largest standalone sportsbooks in the US. It would be 30,000 square feet with a capacity of 2,000 people. It would include two bars and a restaurant, as well as 800 seats and 20 sports betting kiosks.
Construction will cost $28 million, with June 2023 as a target completion date. In the meantime, Raynham Park would open a temporary Caesars Sportsbook after the MGC gives the green light.
Raynham Park is a licensed horse racing simulcast center about 30 miles south of Boston. It hosted greyhound races until Massachusetts banned the sport in 2009. Since then, it’s exclusively been a simulcast facility.
Other retail sportsbooks in Massachusetts
The Caesars Sportsbook at Raynham Park would be the fourth retail sportsbook in Massachusetts. The current three are at Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBET), Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Sportsbook) and MGM Springfield (BetMGM).
Current state law allows Massachusetts’ simulcast centers — Suffolk Downs and Raynham Park — to have retail sportsbooks and partner with existing brands for online sportsbooks. Raynham Park has not yet given its online license to an existing sportsbook. Suffolk Downs has not announced any retail or online partnerships, although it is partnering with DraftKings to get its horse betting app, DK Horse, launched in Massachusetts.
