Bally Bet delays Massachusetts launch to early July

Bally Bet's launch in Massachusetts has been postponed to early July, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). Originally set to go live this week, the sports betting app will now likely launch on Monday after obtaining its certificate of compliance.

At Wednesday’s MGC meeting, Interim Chair Jordan Maynard noted that Bally Bet has "one outstanding issue" to resolve before launching in the state. The operator is scheduled to receive its certificate of compliance on Monday, July 1, with the launch expected shortly thereafter.

Bally Bet initially received its category 3 sports betting license from the MGC in January 2023 but delayed its launch to focus on an iGaming rollout in Rhode Island. The company launched online gaming in the Ocean State in March.

Once operational, Bally Bet will be the seventh sports betting app in Massachusetts, joining major players like DraftKings and FanDuel. The launch in Massachusetts will mark Bally Bet’s expansion into nine states, including existing operations in Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Ohio, and Virginia. The company is also planning a July launch in Maryland.

During the meeting, the MGC proposed August 1 as the date to discuss sports betting limits with an aim to determine the specific information needed from operators. A previous roundtable on this issue was missed by major operators, leading to frustration among commissioners. Operators have indicated their willingness to attend a future meeting following the August 1 planning session.

The commission also expressed interest in addressing illegal gambling markets in a future discussion, focusing particularly on Bovada, which has recently received cease-and-desist letters in several states.