Massachusetts: Raynham Park officials targeting September for retail Caesars Sportsbook launch

Officials for Massachusetts’ Raynham Park presented on Monday their application for a Category 2 (retail) sports betting license to state gambling regulators. As part of a plan unveiled earlier this year, Caesars Sportsbook would run an approximately 30,000 square feet on-site book at the former greyhound track and current simulcasting facility, located south of Boston.

Under a Category 2 permit, Bay State parimutuel licensees are allowed to operate a physical sports wagering facility. While Raynham Park’s sportsbook was initially projected to open in June, it is now expected to open ahead of NFL season around the first week of September. Construction was delayed due to problems in securing some necessary building materials.

Representatives of Raynham Park said on Monday that a temporary site will open ahead of the permanent book, at a date yet to be confirmed. However, neither the temporary site nor the permanent book can go live until both a license and a Certificate of Occupancy are issued by state gambling regulators.

In addition to launching retail sports betting, Raynham Park is also allowed to partner with up to two mobile operators, although it has yet to announce such deals. The simulcast facility had initially considered bet365 as its online betting partner, but the firm has since dropped its plans to operate in the Bay State.

For its part, the other Category 2 potential licensee, Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, has yet to submit a formal sports betting application to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. It is believed that Suffolk Downs may be considering a downtown Boston site for its book, although its owners have yet to announce any plan and confirm who they are planning to partner with.

Photo of Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah's New Orleans

It is expected that, in addition to operating the physical sports betting facility, Caesars will eventually absorb the operations of Raynham Park’s simulcast offering. The sports betting arm of Caesars Entertainment already offers mobile sports gambling in the state through a partnership with the Encore Boston Harbor casino.

While Monday’s meeting between the MGC and Raynham Park officials lasted more than six hours, and commissioners said they were pleased thus far with the plans brought forward, no vote was cast on the racetrack application. The hearing is set to complete at a later date, yet to be announced.

During their presentation, Raynham Park owner Chris Carney said the book would be “one of the largest sports gaming destinations in the United States.” The 30,000-square-foot facility will feature a wide range of video walls, teller windows, kiosks and food options. Raynham Park executives also said that they plan to make their new sportsbook a 21-and-older facility, even if the legal age for betting on horse racing in the state is 18. 

Retail sports betting launched in Massachusetts on January 31 with Barstool Sportsbook (Plainridge Park), BetMGM (MGM Springfield), and WynnBET (Encore Boston Harbor), located at the state’s three casinos. Mobile betting followed soon after, on March 10.