PointsBet Withdrawal Opens One Massachusetts Sportsbook Slot

• PointsBet has withdrawn their application for an untethered online sports betting license in Massachusetts.
• The surprise withdrawal increases the number of available untethered Massachusetts sports betting licenses to two.

BOSTON – Online sports betting in Massachusetts launched just three weeks ago on March 10. Nine tethered and seven untethered temporary online sports betting licenses were made available. PointsBet was in line to receive an untethered temporary license but has since withdrawn their offer.

Now, five untethered Massachusetts online sports betting licenses are available for operators. Bally’s, Betr, Betway, DraftKings, and FanDuel were all approved for licensure by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC).

Bally’s, Betway, and Betr didn’t launch on the commonwealth’s statewide commencement on March 10.

PointsBet’s withdrawal was sudden but opens the door for other sportsbook operators to get Massachusetts action without needing a physical location.

With all nine tethered legal sports betting licenses being allocated prior to PointBet’s application for an untethered license, it is unlikely that they withdrew based on desire of a brick-and-mortar partnership location.

Being “untethered” means that these sportsbooks aren’t obligated to partner with casinos in the state and can be a stand-alone operation.

PointBet met all the requirements for an online sports betting license and was unanimously approved by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to receive a license.

A PointsBet spokesperson made it clear in an interview that their reason for withdrawing was to focus on their current 14 markets across the United States and Canada.

Their spot remains available for any mobile sportsbook willing to pay a $1 million licensing fee to operate in Massachusetts.

News tags: Ballys | Betr | Betway | DraftKings | FanDuel | Massachusetts | PointsBet