It’s a pretty good bet to say that sports betting will go live on Jan. 31, well in time for the Super Bowl.
That is, of course, provided that the state’s contracted testing agency, Gaming Labs International, can verify that the state’s three casinos are using equipment that is compliant with the regulations the commission was still finalizing during their regular meeting Thursday.
It was during that meeting that commissioners unceremoniously announced they would hold a “soft-launch” of sports betting ahead of public bet-taking in late January, with the first bets by Massachusetts gamblers expected on Jan. 31.
“Historically, (the commission) assigned a commissioner to go to the property when they’re doing the soft-launch or the test night,” Executive Commissioner Karen Wells said. “Then that commissioner would make sure everything was in order and sign off for the launch the next day.”
Participants in the soft launch at three casinos will be invited guests and company employees, commission chair Cathy Judd-Stein explained.
GLI is supposed to have the software and equipment vetted by the 16th, a rep for the company told the commission Thursday, but Wells cautioned regulators that the testers could not be rushed and the process must wait on them.
“It’s significant that it has to be dependent on that. GLI, their whole business is based on integrity so they cannot pass over any kind of issue with respect to the equipment,” she said.
After that the commission will still need to vote on certificates of operation for the three facilities, which Judd-Stein told commissioners would likely occur on Jan 27.
Commissioner Jordan Maynard is scheduled to verify Plainridge Park’s launch, Commissioner Brad Hill is assigned to MGM Springfield and Commissioner Eileen O’Brien to Encore Boston Harbor.
The commission has been aiming for a January launch of in person betting since the passage of An Act Regulating Sports Wagering set them to work crafting the state’s newest industry from scratch.
Thursday’s soft-launch plan effectively schedules the final steps required for the state’s three Category 1, or in-person, licensees to begin taking bets on professional and some college sports.
Mobile betting is currently scheduled to launch in March.