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In case you missed it (or perhaps live under a rock) … sports betting officially launched in Massachusetts on Tuesday. It’s just retail sportsbooks for now at the state’s three casinos — mobile betting won’t come until late February or early March.
But still. This was a momentous occasion for a state that’s been clamoring for legal sports wagering for years. No longer will Massachusetts residents have to drive to New Hampshire or Connecticut or New York to place their legal sports bets.
Now, they just have to drive to Everett for Encore Boston Harbor, Springfield for MGM Springfield, or Plainville for Plainridge Park Casino.
Folks took to social media on Tuesday to celebrate the occasion. They posted their first bets. They shared photos and videos of the sights and sounds at Massachusetts’ three retail sportsbooks. They breathed a collective sigh of relief that launch day finally came.
Here’s a look at what social media is saying about the Massachusetts sports betting launch.
Sights and Sounds From the 3 Retail Sportsbooks
Advertising itself as “Boston’s Sportsbook,” the WynnBET Sportsbook at Encore Boston Harbor kicked off with an $11,000 bet from former New England Patriot Julian Edelman on the Boston Celtics to win the NBA Finals.
https://twitter.com/WynnBET/status/1620460895066521601
The calm before the storm! Excited to open up the @WynnBET sportsbook at Encore Boston Harbor later today! pic.twitter.com/BB2OjwAcTG
— Seth Medvin (@SethMedvinPR) January 31, 2023
Massachusetts sports betting is live. pic.twitter.com/Ilfiqmu2BH
— Sammy P (@spshoot) January 31, 2023
Massachusetts sports betting opening day 🎰
Former athletes Cedric Maxwell, Matt Light and Johnny Damon place the first bets at @EncoreResortBH WynnBET Sportsbook windows @7News pic.twitter.com/IEGYwMo6s0
— Mari Salazar (@MariSalazarTV) January 31, 2023
3…2…1… 💸🏈⚾🏀🏒 Legalized #sports #wagering has begun at the three #Massachusetts casinos. https://t.co/jcL1KBv1wR pic.twitter.com/4hPnpzvIhR
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) January 31, 2023
Fun day at the office being able to hang out at the #casino! #julianedelman and 3 others were the first to put in #massachusetts first legal #sportsbetting! Edelman placed an $11,000 bet on the @celtics to win in all! pic.twitter.com/neAyTDaMeD
— Chetan Rakieten (@chetanrakieten) February 1, 2023
The BetMGM Sportsbook Massachusetts at MGM Springfield launched with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno betting $50 on the Eagles to win the Super Bowl. Boston Bruins legend Ray Bourque put $100 on the Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.
HOFer Ray Bourque places officially the second bet in Massachusetts (Mayor Sarno or Springfield went first) on the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup. pic.twitter.com/mqmKFdM3Gm
— Joe Tall (@JoeTall) January 31, 2023
Springfield Mayor Sarno places the first sports bet in the state of Massachusetts on the @Eagles to win the Super Bowl. #GoBirds 🦅 @WWLP22News pic.twitter.com/n2BN63ASvJ
— Taylor Knight (@TaylorKNews) January 31, 2023
Sports Betting Goes Live in Massachusetts. #SportsBetting #Massachusetts #LaunchDay #SportsBettingInMass pic.twitter.com/zEG5mKDBQ6
— Gabriel Ben (@gabrielben) January 31, 2023
Down in Plainville, former New England Patriot Rob Ninkovich opened sports betting at Plainridge Park Casino.
WATCH: Rob Ninkovich placing the first sports wager at the first casino in Mass. 🚨Legendary & Historic Moment Alert 🚨#BarstoolSportsbook #barstool #sportsbettingtwitter @ninko50 pic.twitter.com/loX5mXPmkM
— Plainridge Park Casino (@PlainridgePark) February 1, 2023
Rob Ninkovich places the first bet at Plainridge Park Casino for the Bruins to win the Stanley Cup. pic.twitter.com/rJ8skLdJQD
— Joe Tall (@JoeTall) January 31, 2023
It’s been years in the making. #Sportsbetting is now up & running at #Massachusetts’ 3 casinos including @PlainridgePark in #Plainville. #PlainridgeParkCasino has teamed up with @barstoolsports to create a sports betting entertainment venue where the old Flutie’s restaurant was. pic.twitter.com/m2FikHRTWx
— Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimTunnicliffe1) January 31, 2023
Finally!!! @barstoolsports @BSSportsbook @PlainridgePark pic.twitter.com/jYDxCRhKcq
— Ryan Gavel (@Rgavel4) January 31, 2023
Some of the First Legal Sports Wagers
So, who were some of the first legal Massachusetts sports bettors? And what were they wagering on?
https://twitter.com/WynnBET/status/1620441628598226944
One of the first legal bet slips in Massachusetts belongs to Brian Quental of Taunton, MA!#MASportsBetting #SportsBetting pic.twitter.com/wiJ6dwrfn0
— Bookmakers Review (@BMRReviews) January 31, 2023
First Massachusetts bet. Red Sox over 76.5 wins.
Stealing money. pic.twitter.com/ISh2xudlGp
— Matt McCarthy (@MattMcCarthy985) January 31, 2023
It’s the first day of legal #sportsbetting in Massachusetts today so of course I had to make a wager on the #RedSox to win the #WorldSeries at @PlainridgePark. I won on the same bet in 2013 but I’m slightly less confident this one will pay off. @barstoolsports pic.twitter.com/MbBfV5WwZt
— Craig MacCormack (@CraigMacCormack) February 1, 2023
Massachusetts Politicians Get Involved
Some of the state’s top lawmakers showed up for launch day, too.
Here’s House Speaker Ron Mariano, one of the most vocal advocates of legal MA sports betting.
I was thrilled to join colleagues and Boston sports legends to celebrate the first day of legal sports betting in Massachusetts, a new industry that will bring immense economic benefits to the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/V7a8sQWsve
— Speaker Ron Mariano (@RonMariano) January 31, 2023
State Representative David Muradian went to the Barstool Sportsbook at PPC.
Let’s go @NHLBruins ! @BSSportsbook @PlainridgePark pic.twitter.com/JcZM7TQMHC
— David Muradian (@Muradian4Rep) January 31, 2023
So did State Senator Becca Rausch.
Exciting day at @PlainridgePark as sports betting officially opens in Massachusetts! Joined state and local colleagues (so many not pictured here!) to mark the occasion. Eager to see bolstered economic benefits as they unfold. #mapoli #sportsbettingtwitter pic.twitter.com/nYuriSEgUc
— Senator Becca Rausch – INACTIVE ACCOUNT (@BeccaRauschMA) January 31, 2023
Most of All, People Were Just Happy
Legalized sports betting goes live in Massachusetts today. @EncoreResortBH @WynnBET See you soon. pic.twitter.com/KnKN5o8fkv
— Jonathan Impemba (@jimpemba777) January 31, 2023
https://twitter.com/nikgazcs2/status/1620436824501153793
https://twitter.com/HighSlotCoco/status/1620507931371347980
Hell of a showing at Plainridge Park casino today. About 3 people in line waiting to bet when I arrived. Smashing success 🙌🏻
— C Chach (@WhitePaulPierce) February 1, 2023
Sports betting live in Massachusetts!! Finally 🥲 pic.twitter.com/RoMzZRthue
— Bennett (@617Bennett) January 31, 2023
Hey Massachusetts, enjoy your retail sports betting liftoff today!
Cc: @EncoreResortBH @WynnBET and @MGMSpringfield @BetMGM. pic.twitter.com/wjpVOdvDMw
— Patrick Everson (@PatrickE_Vegas) January 31, 2023
Huge day In Massachusetts. Legal sports betting is finally live! Can’t wait for @DKSportsbook and mobile betting to come in March!
— Paul Finnell (@pfinnell4) January 31, 2023
There is nothing better than your state legalizing sports betting. My Massachusetts people are about to know what true happiness is. Excited for you guys 🥹
— Matty Chucks (@MattyChucks) January 31, 2023
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPORTS BETTING IN MASSACHUSETTS!
— KenDawg Millionaire (@ferris516) January 31, 2023
Sports betting in Massachusetts 🥲🫶
— John Reed (@J_Reed20) January 31, 2023
Congratulations Massachusetts on legalized sports betting 🤝
Thinking of cooking up a parlay for this occasion
— Dano Mataya (@drmataya) January 31, 2023
Congrats Massachusetts. We are legal. #SportsBetting #Massachusetts
— BostonFats (@BostonFats) January 31, 2023
https://twitter.com/NavarroKnows/status/1620474165924073473
Sports betting is live in Massachusetts! Finally!
— 💸 Spreadachini 🏁 (@BOthaBeast) January 31, 2023
