It appears like sports betting operator bet365 will not be a part of Massachusetts sports betting after all.
On Thursday, the UK-based operator announced it would not collaborate with Raynham Park as an online partner. Bet365’s decision comes after Raynham Park inked an in-person sports betting deal with Caesars Sportsbook.
Raynham Park sports betting deal with bet365 falls apart
Retail sports betting in Massachusetts will arrive on Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. Estimations show the state could generate as much as $400 million in total sports betting handle this year.
Additionally, online sports betting is expected to debut in March, ideally in time for the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Under Massachusetts gaming law, both Raynham Park and Suffolk Downs, the state’s two horse racing simulcast facilities, can apply for licenses that permit in-person and online sportsbooks.
In a statement, Chris Carney, one of the owners of Raynham Park, said:
“Caesars Sportsbook is the strongest retail sports gaming brand in the industry and we are extremely proud to announce our partnership.”
Retail Caesars sportsbook coming soon
Although not confirmed, Caesars expects to open a temporary retail sportsbook at Raynham Park later this year. The company intends to eventually open a permanent 30,000-square-foot sportsbook at the racecourse in the future.
The temporary location will be located at 1958 Broadway Avenue in Raynham, about 35 miles south of Boston and east of Providence. Caesars already has a Category 2 online license with Encore Boston Harbor. Thus it will not be seeking an online deal with Raynham Park.
Even though bet365 will not launch in the state, it still has a US presence elsewhere. The sportsbook is currently available in Colorado, New Jersey and Ohio.
For those curious about online sports betting, Massachusetts regulators approved licenses for six online operators.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved:
- Bally Bet
- Betway
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- PointsBet
Whether each operator will launch in unison or on a case-by-case basis remains unknown.