The online sportsbooks in Massachusetts had their second-largest handle ever with just under $638 million in wagers, coming in slightly above November by about $1 million. December’s handle touts the record for MA online sportsbooks with just over $643 million.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission confirmed the most revenue and tax collected since the launch of sports betting in its January 2024 revenue report.
The total sports betting handle came in at $651.7 million, and the Massachusetts sports betting operators won $72.7 million with an 11.16% revenue hold that jumped from the 9.4% hold achieved in December. This was the third-largest total handle ever generated since sports betting in Massachusetts went live last year.
Taxable gaming revenue and total tax collected both increased month-over-month as well, with the $71.1 million in taxable gaming revenue driving more than $14 million into state coffers. Both figures are the highest such metrics driven for the state's sports betting industry. December had previously held the high-water mark for both taxable revenue and tax collected, marking back-to-back record-setting months in Massachusetts.
Performance from online sportsbooks
DraftKings still dominates the Massachusetts sports betting landscape. The Boston-based operator collected a whopping $311.4 million in wagers and enjoyed an 11.86% hold for $36.9 million in revenue. Its total handle, revenue, and hold% all declined month-over-month though.
FanDuel came in second with a $194 million handle and $25.5 million in revenue on a 13.19% hold. All three metrics are month-over-month improvements for DraftKings’ biggest rival.
ESPN Bet beat out BetMGM for third place. The newest entry to the Bay State collected $45.4 in wagers and only kept a generous 4.51% hold for just over $2 million in revenue. BetMGM had a more victorious month, however. The book generated just under $4 million in revenue from $36.8 million in wagers, a 10.77% hold.
Caesars and Fanatics will be left to fend for fourth with WynnBet and Betr ceasing operations by the end of February. Caesars held that spot in January with a $22.5 million handle, but Fanatics snuffed out a marginal $10,000 win in revenue with a 7.08% hold bringing in $1.098 million from its $15.5 handle.
WynnBet collected $11.855 million in wagers in its final full month of operation in the Bay State, generating a relatively paltry $730,720 in revenue on a 6.16% hold. Betr barely collected more than $400,000 in wagers and had just under $36,000 in revenue.
Retail sportsbooks in Massachusetts
The Bay State’s three retail sportsbooks collected $13.76 million in wagers in January, with Encore Boston Harbor taking the top spot with its $6.129 million handle. Plainridge Park Casino had previously held the top spot for two straight months but had its lowest handle since September with $5.75 million.
MGM Springfield collected $1.88 million in total wagers, and has only cracked the $2 million handle threshold once since February 2023.
