Sportsbook

Massachusetts sports betting market blew past tax revenue projections in first year

Tuesday 27 de February 2024 / 12:00

⏱ 1 min read

(Massachusetts).- Massachusetts collected nearly twice as much in taxes during its first year of sports betting as lawmakers projected.

Massachusetts sports betting market blew past tax revenue projections in first year

Why it matters: Online sportsbooks have kept the money flowing into the state's coffers in their first year despite concerns about Massachusetts wading into an oversaturated market.

Driving the news: Sportsbooks reported more than $542 million in taxable revenue between February 2023, when retail sportsbooks launched, and last month, per regulatory data.

Massachusetts collected more than $108 million in sports betting taxes in that time frame.
More than 98% of the revenue and taxes come from online sportsbooks, which launched a month later in March 2023.

Flashback: Before legalizing sports betting, lawmakers who supported the move cited projections that the state would bring in at least $60 million annually in tax revenue.

Zoom in: Like in many states, Massachusetts sportsbooks saw the highest activity during the NFL season.

Their collective monthly revenue peaked last month, reporting more than $71 million in taxable revenue in the weeks before the Super Bowl.
Again, the vast majority of the revenue came from online sportsbooks.

Reality check: Massachusetts' sports betting taxes make up a small share of the state's tax revenue.