Boston Marathon Betting? Massachusetts Regulators Reject DraftKings’ Request

The 127th Beantown Marathon testament ladder on Monday, Apr 17. The 2023 run marks the world-class clip inwards its history that legal sports betting is in operation(p) inward the 26.2-mile event’s rest home say of Massachusetts.

In-person retail sportsbooks opened on Jan 31 at Encore Hub of the Universe Harbor and MGM Springfield. The Bay State Gaming Commission (MGC) allowed online sports betting to commence lowest month.

Massachusetts sports bettors currently experience half a dozen regulated roving sportsbooks to take from: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, WynnBet, Barstool Sportsbook, and Caesars Sportsbook.

The March debut of online sports play was especially sweet for DraftKings, the Boston-based day-after-day fantasise sports unshakable that has since transitioned its centering to sports betting and iGaming. DraftKings, which has its home base simply 1,500 feet east of the Hub of the Universe Marathon destination contrast along Boylston Street, had wanted to include the race inwards its online sportsbook inward Massachusetts.

Request Rejected

During the MGC’s encounter on Thursday, the v commissioners mulled DraftKings’ bespeak to offer odds on this month’s capital of Massachusetts Marathon. The sportsbook, which only operates online in Massachusetts, says it would bid lines on about 40 professional person runners, non unpaid racers.

“There are near 70 participants inwards the pro field of view for the 2023 marathon. DraftKings testament only when follow offering the teetotum 20 men and women pro runners, and men and women winning clip (over/under) for wagering,” the DraftKings petition explained.

State gaming regulators inward Kansas, Oregon, and Wyoming make already allowed licensed sportsbooks to include betting odds on major marathons, such as Boston. DraftKings says its 2023 Boston battle of Marathon offering would include only if futures, non in-race betting.

The Beantown Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and i of the most iconic events inwards all of sports. Traditionally held on Patriots’ Day, the class takes runners from Hopkinton on winding roads to metropolis streets into downtown Boston, with the endurance race culminating inward John Singleton Copley Square.

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) opposed the DraftKings request to reserve wagering on the Boston Marathon. The BAA told the MGC that preparations for the run hold been underway for over a year, and allowing betting on such unforesightful note would lay out unity concerns.

“There is non sufficient clip for the Bean Town Athletic Association, nor its many partners and agencies, to coordinate and full ensure right protocols are inwards position to bread and butter such a proposition for wagering on our event,” a BAA letter of the alphabet to the country gaming regulators explained.

MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein said ane of the agency’s “critical components” inwards approving new events to the state’s wagering catalogue involves assuring that the event’s governing organic structure tin protect the integrity of the outcome.

“In this case, we’ve heard directly from the governing body,” Judd-Stein said, as she seemingly tipped her hand that she opposes allowing wagering on the 2023 Bean Town Marathon.

A subsequent loose vote was unanimous in opponent to allowing DraftKings to include Boston battle of Marathon betting. Following a brief recess, the MGC made it prescribed with a unanimous balloting against the race.

Barstool Sportsbook Delayed

In related Old Colony regulatory news, Plainridge Mungo Park told the MGC that the opening of its retail Barstool Sportsbook will follow delayed. The casino, owned and operated past Gaming and Leisure Properties and William Penn Entertainment, told the country late that to a greater extent time is required to finishing the expression of its in the flesh(p) sportsbook.

Plainridge is reconfiguring the former Flutie’s Sports Pub into a Barstool Sportsbook. The installation is now readiness to undecided this summer instead of later(a) spring.

Penn Entertainment lowest yr exercised its rights to gain all of Barstool Sports, the social media and gaming unfluctuating founded past Dave Portnoy. In ahead of time 2020, William Penn initially agreed to compensate $163 million for a 36% wager in Barstool. But that trade included giving William Penn the right hand to deliberate purchasing the remaining 64% of the company. Penn paid a add of $551 zillion for Barstool.