Massachusetts Sports Betting Handle Hits $571M in August 2026

Jonathan Rodriguez

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez

Published: Wed Sep 23, 2026, 11:00 am ET

Read Time: 3 minutes

Massachusetts Sports Betting Handle Hits $571M in August 2026

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Massachusetts sports betting activity remained strong in August 2026, despite a notable decline in sportsbook revenue.

According to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's (MGC) August revenue report, sportsbooks accepted $571.2 million in wagers during the month. That figure increased 4.8% from the $545.3 million recorded in August 2025.

However, higher betting volume did not translate into higher operator revenue. Taxable sports wagering revenue reached $47.09 million, down 15.6% year over year.

The results show how sportsbook hold can significantly affect monthly revenue. In August, operators retained 8.49% of the money wagered after paying winning bets. That compared with a 10.48% hold in August 2025 and 11.31% in July 2026.

Massachusetts Sports Betting Handle Tops $571 Million

The August handle marked the 13th consecutive month in which Massachusetts sportsbooks surpassed $500 million in wagers.

Online betting accounted for almost all of the activity. Mobile operators accepted approximately $566.4 million, while retail sportsbooks handled about $4.8 million.

August activity still increased despite a different sports calendar from the previous year. The month did not include a full weekend of college football, unlike August 2025.

Nevertheless, Week Zero college football, MLB, and NFL preseason action helped maintain strong wagering demand. As a result, US online sportsbooks continued to attract substantial betting volume across Massachusetts.

The August handle also declined from July, when Massachusetts sportsbooks accepted approximately $592.6 million. That represented a monthly decrease of about 3.6%.

Lower Hold Rate Cuts Massachusetts Sports Betting Revenue

The weaker hold rate explains much of the revenue decline.

A sportsbook's hold represents the percentage of wagers it keeps after paying winning bettors. Therefore, a lower hold can reduce revenue even when betting volume rises.

Massachusetts sportsbooks generated $47.09 million in taxable revenue in August. That marked a 28.2% decline from July's $65.56 million.

In its August report, the MGC confirmed that seven mobile operators and three retail sportsbooks generated the month's taxable sports wagering revenue.

The state's tax structure also separates mobile and retail operations. Category 3 mobile operators pay a 20% tax on taxable sports wagering revenue. Category 1 retail operators pay a 15% tax.

DraftKings and FanDuel Lead the Market

DraftKings remained the largest operator in Massachusetts during August.

The sportsbook accepted approximately $275.1 million in wagers and generated about $22.8 million in taxable revenue. FanDuel followed with roughly $144.4 million in wagers and $12.8 million in taxable revenue.

Fanatics ranked behind the two market leaders with approximately $62.3 million in August wagers. BetMGM followed with about $48.8 million, according to industry reporting based on the MGC figures.

The results highlight the continued concentration of Massachusetts sports betting activity among the state's largest online operators.

Massachusetts Gambling Market Posts Mixed Results

The August sports betting figures present a mixed picture for Massachusetts gambling.

Sportsbook handle continued to expand annually, showing sustained demand for legal wagering. However, lower operator holds pushed taxable revenue well below the previous year's level.

At the same time, the broader gambling market generated substantial revenue. The state's three casinos produced approximately $101.92 million in gross gaming revenue during August.

Massachusetts has now collected approximately $500.35 million in sports betting taxes and assessments since legal wagering launched in 2023.

With college football entering its regular-season schedule in September, the next report will provide a clearer comparison for sportsbook activity. The August results, however, show that strong wagering volume does not always produce higher sportsbook revenue.

Jonathan Rodriguez
Jonathan Rodriguez

Jonathan is an avid basketball fan, and is often looking forward to the next upcoming NBA season when not checking players' stats during games. He also likes to keep his ears on the ground for the latest rumblings in the online casino industry.

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