Despite only having three land-based casinos in the entire state, Massachusetts has continued to post strong gambling figures within its borders. In September 2025’s revenue figures, the Bay State saw an increase of approximately 4% compared to the returns as of September 2024. So there are clear signs that the demand and popularity for casino action in Massachusetts remains strong, in what is now a market worth around $96 million in annual Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).
Slots revenue saw an increase of 7.5% from the previous year within the state, more than making up for a decline of 3.7% in revenue from table games like roulette. Slots hold great appeal as they don’t require skill or strategy to enjoy, and they provide highly visual and engaging experiences. Participation in slots play has been a large driving force behind the rise of online casinos, which are prevalent in global markets.
The stable market for legal land-based casinos could be what’s driving the development of online gambling. Take the UK, for example, one of the most advanced gambling hubs in the world. Its well-established land-based casino market helped drive both the development and popularity of the online sector. Players there use reviews by experts to choose among more than a hundred licensed online operators. As for Massachusetts, online casinos are not yet available. But given the continuing growth shown by land-based venues, could this be what pushes the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGA) to legalize online gambling sites?
In the Works at Least
Earlier this year, a pair of bills (aka the Massachusetts Internet Gaming Act) was proposed by State Sen. Paul Feeney and Rep. Daniel Cahill, bringing this matter to the fore. The idea within the proposed legislation is to hand land-based casinos in the state permission to partner with operators to launch online casino gambling platforms (Category 1 licence). The proposal goes further by also wanting to allow other companies to obtain licenses and run independent online casinos (Category 2 license).
The latter option would mean that an operator wouldn’t need a land-based casino within the state, which could be appealing to major established online brands. Should the bill ever get passed, all of that would naturally give rise to accessible online options to games like blackjack, poker and of course, slots, with the MGA overseeing the licensing and regulation.
But as of late 2025, the Massachusetts Internet Gaming Act had stalled, having been referred to the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and a public hearing having been completed. The bills have not left the committee to go forward to a House or Senate vote, and could run into legislative deadlines.
Joining Other States
The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) is legislation that allows participating states to collaborate on internet gaming. Think of a game of online poker where players from different states have access to the same room, or a progressive jackpot slot played across different states.
Nevada, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia form the MSIGA. Should the Massachusetts Gaming Commission work towards participating in iGaming with other states, it could provide a significant boost of interest, because it’s where larger prize pools and higher levels of interactivity (which can lead to quicker gameplay) typically happen.
There are only seven states in the US which have made the step to legalize online casinos, but in some instances, even that is fairly limited, such as the cases of Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut. But Massachusetts isn’t alone in at least considering moving to legalize it, as the likes of Maryland, Indiana, New York, Hawaii and Wyoming’s lawmakers are also looking at options.
Proposed Benefits
The proposed benefit of legalizing online casinos in the Bay State is, of course, tax revenue. Assuming anywhere between a 15% and 20% tax rate on online casino operations within the state, it’s estimated that around an extra $230-275 million could be generated for Massachusetts within the first few years, with any operator forking out an initial $5 million for a five-year licence term.
It’s assumed then that it would lead to more money being invested in public services. But there are two sides to every coin, and there are critics of the proposals because they could potentially take away from revenue generated by land-based casinos, which could impact the local job scene.
Looking Ahead
While sports betting has had the green light in the state, the wait for legalized online casinos in Massachusetts goes on. A lot of people in the state seem ready to welcome it with open arms, but will they get their wish? As has been seen in other states, the road to legalizing online casinos is a long and often slow one. But momentum is clearly building.
