Massachusetts Sports Betting Surges in July 2026

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez
Published: Mon Aug 24, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 4 minutes

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Massachusetts sports betting posted a strong performance in July 2026, helped by increased interest during the FIFA World Cup.
Sportsbooks accepted $592.6 million in wagers during the month, according to the latest report from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). That marked a 21.9% increase from July 2025.
Operators also generated approximately $67 million in gross sports betting revenue. That figure represented a 36.2% year-over-year increase. The results highlight another strong month for Massachusetts gambling, particularly as sports betting continues expanding across the state.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Handle Climbs
The state's sportsbooks handled significantly more betting activity than they did during the same month last year.
Massachusetts recorded $485.9 million in sports wagers during July 2025. The latest total therefore added more than $106 million in annual wagering volume.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup played an important role in that increase. The tournament helped create additional betting opportunities during a quieter summer sports period.
Moreover, the World Cup boost also extended beyond July. Massachusetts sportsbooks generated more than $122 million in online sports betting revenue across June and July.
Together, operators accepted roughly $1.2 billion in wagers during those two months.
The state's July sports betting hold also reached 11.3%. That marked the fourth-highest monthly hold recorded by Massachusetts sportsbooks this year.
DraftKings and FanDuel Lead the Market
DraftKings remained the largest operator in Massachusetts during July.
The sportsbook accepted approximately $281.2 million in wagers and generated $33 million in revenue. FanDuel followed with $150.6 million in handle and $17.2 million in revenue.
BetMGM also delivered a strong performance, posting the highest online hold among major operators. Its hold reached 12.4% during July.
These results reinforce the strength of major brands competing across the Massachusetts market. They also show why US online sportsbooks continue attracting substantial betting volume.
Meanwhile, retail sportsbooks contributed a smaller share of the state's overall activity.
Retail Sportsbooks Produce Mixed Results
Massachusetts' three retail sportsbooks delivered mixed results during July.
Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park generated positive sports betting revenue during the month. MGM Springfield, meanwhile, posted a notable result in the opposite direction.
MGM Springfield accepted $678,454 in wagers but generated zero sports betting revenue. The result highlights the volatility that smaller retail sportsbooks can experience.
Online wagering therefore remained the primary driver of Massachusetts' overall sports betting performance.
Sports Betting Generates Millions in Taxes
The strong July performance also benefited Massachusetts' tax collections.
The state generated approximately $13.1 million in tax revenue from sports betting during the month. Online sports wagering operators face a 20% tax on taxable revenue.
Since sports betting launched in 2023, the state has collected nearly $491 million in taxes and assessments from licensed operators.
That growing contribution has become an important part of the state's regulated gambling market.
Casino Revenue Shows Contrasting Trends
Massachusetts' sports betting growth also contrasted with its traditional casino performance.
The state's three commercial casinos generated roughly $95.8 million in July gross gaming revenue. That represented a decline of about 1% from the previous year.
Slots generated approximately $73.7 million, increasing 2% year over year. Meanwhile, table games produced $24.8 million, down 8.9%.
Encore Boston Harbor remained the state's largest casino with roughly $59.8 million in revenue. Its total declined 0.6% from July 2025.
MGM Springfield generated approximately $23.1 million, representing a 3.9% annual decline.
Plainridge Park was the only casino to grow year over year, increasing revenue 1.9% to roughly $15.6 million.
Its slots-only format helped it avoid the table-game weakness affecting the other Massachusetts casinos.
These results show contrasting trends across Massachusetts gambling during July. Sports betting surged, while casino revenue remained relatively stable.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Maintains Momentum
July's results give Massachusetts sportsbooks considerable momentum heading into the second half of 2026.
The World Cup provided a significant boost, while established operators maintained strong market positions.
Furthermore, growing tax collections demonstrate the financial impact of regulated sports wagering. The state does not offer online casinos in the same way as some other regulated US markets. Therefore, sports betting remains its primary regulated online gambling option.
With major sporting events continuing throughout the year, Massachusetts sports betting could maintain its strong performance in the coming months.
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