Massachusetts Sports Betting Sets New Record in September

Massachusetts sports betting reached new heights in September, with players wagering a record-breaking $800.3 million across online and retail sportsbooks. The figure marks the highest monthly handle since the launch of the state’s regulated market in March 2023, underscoring the growing popularity of legal wagering as the NFL and college football seasons got underway.

The September handle narrowly surpassed the previous record of $788.3 million set in January 2025, edging higher by 1.5%. Betting activity was also up sharply compared to August, rising 46.8%, and came in 17.9% above the same month last year. According to data released by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), the surge in betting volume highlights the seasonal boost provided by football, traditionally the most active period for sportsbooks nationwide.

Total Handle	Online Handle	Retail Handle	Taxable Revenue	Online Revenue	Retail Revenue	Hold	Top Operator	Top Op. Handle	Top Op. Revenue
$800.3M	$789.4M	$10.9M	$52.3M	$52.0M	$386,917	6.54%	DraftKings	$409.6M	$26.1M

Online Sportsbooks Dominate Massachusetts Market

Online wagering continued to power the state’s sports betting industry, with digital sportsbooks accounting for $789.4 million of the total handle — enough on their own to break January’s previous record. Retail betting locations contributed an additional $10.9 million, representing only a small share of overall activity.

Despite the record handle, taxable gaming revenue came in at $52.3 million, well below January’s record of $96.4 million. The total was also 6.3% lower than August’s figure and down 28.8% from September 2024. Online operators generated nearly all of that amount, reporting $52 million in revenue, while retail sportsbooks added $386,917. The overall hold rate — the percentage of wagers kept by operators as profit — stood at 6.54% for the month.

Industry analysts say the decline in revenue despite higher wagering reflects a mix of player-friendly results and promotional activity tied to the start of the football season. High handles and lower holds are common in early fall as sportsbooks compete for market share with aggressive bonuses and odds boosts.

DraftKings, headquartered in Boston, maintained a commanding lead in its home state. The operator handled $409.6 million in bets and earned $26.1 million in revenue, resulting in a 6.37% hold. The company continues to dominate the Massachusetts market, benefiting from strong brand recognition and local loyalty among bettors. FanDuel, owned by Flutter Entertainment, remained the clear runner-up. It reported $15.9 million in revenue from a handle of $192.6 million, translating to a robust 8.26% hold — the highest among the state’s major operators. BetMGM ranked third, posting $4.1 million in revenue from $51.4 million wagered, for a 7.98% hold.

Fanatics Sportsbook followed in revenue despite handling significantly more wagers than BetMGM. It recorded $3.1 million in revenue from $83.2 million in bets, reflecting a low 3.73% hold. ESPN Bet took in $1.4 million on $24 million in bets, while Caesars Sportsbook reported $1.1 million in revenue from $24.6 million, a 4.47% hold. Bally Bet continued to occupy the smallest share of the market, generating $261,101 in revenue from $4.1 million in wagers with a 6.38% hold.

In the state’s retail sector, performance remained steady but modest compared to the online market. Encore Boston Harbor led all physical locations with $221,492 in revenue from $5.1 million in wagers, producing a 4.34% hold. Plainridge Park Casino followed closely, posting $165,425 in revenue on $4.8 million in handle, with a 3.43% hold. MGM Springfield accepted $986,967 in bets but reported no revenue for the month, suggesting bettors came out ahead.

Retail sportsbooks continue to represent less than 2% of total wagering activity in Massachusetts, a pattern consistent with trends in other mature sports betting markets. Convenience, mobile access, and promotional incentives have largely shifted consumer behavior toward digital platforms.

 

Casino Revenue Slips but Remains Above 2024 Levels

The MGC also released figures for casino gaming, which totaled $95.7 million in gross revenue across the state’s three properties in September. While that figure represents an 8.9% decline from August, it remains 3.9% higher than September 2024. Slot machines continued to be the dominant driver of casino income, generating $67.6 million, while table games contributed $28.2 million. Encore Boston Harbor again topped the list with $59.1 million in total gaming revenue. MGM Springfield followed with $22.3 million, and Plainridge Park Casino reported $14.3 million. Casino performance in Massachusetts tends to fluctuate seasonally, often dipping in late summer before rebounding in the winter months.

In total, Massachusetts collected $37.8 million in taxes from gambling activities in September. Of that, $10.4 million came from sports betting and $27.4 million from casino gaming. The consistent tax revenue stream highlights the economic importance of gambling to the state’s budget, funding a range of public programs including education, infrastructure, and local aid.

 

September’s record handle reflects strong consumer engagement as Massachusetts enters its second full football season with legal wagering,

 

Market Outlook

Industry observers expect betting activity to remain strong through the fall as the NFL, college football, and MLB playoffs continue to fuel wagering. While operator revenue may fluctuate due to hold variance and promotional costs, Massachusetts’ growing handle suggests the market is stabilizing at a high level of consumer engagement.

The record-setting September handle confirms Massachusetts’ position as one of the most active sports betting markets in the U.S., trailing only larger states like New York, New Jersey, and Illinois in total monthly volume.