Massachusetts: survey finds 41% of adults likely to bet once market launches; DraftKings the preferred sportsbook choice

While much remains to be seen about Massachusetts’ upcoming sports betting market, including what the licensing process will be like and for a launch date to be set, many Bay Staters are eager to start wagering on their favorite teams. According to a new survey, two in five adults plan to do so once regulated mobile sports gaming is launched.

The poll, conducted by SurveyMonkey on behalf of BetMassachusetts.com, posed a variety of sports betting-related questions for state adults, including current gaming behaviors and expectations for the regulated market. The survey found that 26% of adults currently bet on sports in retail sportsbooks, offshore, or other legal states – but this figure is set to increase after the state market launches, with 41% likely to place bets once online betting is legal.

Additionally, the study found that 37% of Massachusetts sports bettors plan to bet at least once a week on sports; and another 2 in 5 (38%) anticipate betting once a month to multiple times a year. Other results found that 20% would bet on award shows, such as the Academy Awards or Grammys; while 22% would bet on reality TV shows, and 19% would bet on US elections. However, political betting of any kind in the United States is currently prohibited, meaning this segment will remain unadressed.

The current lack of legal options in Massachusetts hasn’t deterred sports betting enthusiasts, with 28% of residents having traveled to surrounding states to place a legal bet. Still, a good portion of the state –at 71%– admitted to currently not wagering on sports, meaning upcoming sportsbooks will have a significant job to do in order to convert them into bettors.

As for preferred sports betting brands, of all providers, Massachusetts bettors first picked DraftKings as their favorite, at 57.1% – this is good news for the sports betting giant, which calls Boston its home. FanDuel positions itself as the second most-popular choice at 33.6%, followed by BetMGM (15.1%) and Caesars (11.3%).

BetMassachusetts commissioned SurveyMonkey to conduct the sports betting preferences survey with a total sample size of 1,008 Massachusetts adults. It was carried out online, and the figures have been weighted and represent all state adults aged 18 and over.

Massachusetts legislators reached an agreement on sports wagering on August 1, after years of back-and-forth discussions, debates and amendments. Approval is now set to make the Bay State catch up with its neighbors Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, which already offer legal sports betting in some capacity.

Highlights of Massachusetts’ legislation include college sports betting –except for in-state college teams, unless they are playing in a post-season tournament like March Madness–, tax rates of 15% on in-person wagering and 20% for mobile/online; and a full licensing fee of $5 million for a five-year period, with application at $200K.