The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has delayed Raynham Park’s application to open a retail Caesars Sportsbook. The evaluation was originally scheduled for March 28 but will now take place on April 12. This revelation was made during Thursday’s open meeting of the MGC. The scheduling conflict prevented the commissioner from being present for the evaluation on March 28, so the MGC postponed it to April 12, the next available time slot. Raynham Park announced its partnership with Caesars for a retail Caesars Sportsbook Ma back in January. The application for its retail license has been submitted for nearly 8 weeks now. “The applicant is eager to get started,” said MGC Executive Director Karen Wells to the commissioners on Thursday.
Caesars Raynham Park agreement under scrutiny
As the Caesars Raynham Park program won’t begin until April 12, the contract between Raynham Park and Caesars Entertainment can still undergo its review in March.
Raynham Park plus Caesars Amusement essentially shaped a shared application to get a retail gambling license , so the Research and Observance Bureau desires to take a nearer look at the agreement between the 2 entities.
If it’s approved, the Caesars Sportsbook at Raynham Park will be one of the largest standalone sportsbooks in the US. It will span 30,000 square feet with a capacity of 2,000 people. The sportsbook will feature two bars, a restaurant, 800 seats, and 20 gambling kiosks.
Structure will cost $28 million, together with June 2023 as a targeted completion time. In the meantime, Raynham Park would certainly open a brief Caesars Sportsbook after the MGC gives the ok.
Raynham Park is a licensed horse racing simulcast center located about 25 miles south of Boston. It used to host greyhound races until Massachusetts banned the sport in 2009. Since then, it has exclusively operated as a simulcast facility.
Some other retail sportsbooks in Ma
The Caesars Sportsbook at Raynham Park would be the fourth retail sportsbook in Massachusetts. The current three are located at Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBET), Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Sportsbook), and MGM Springfield (BetMGM).
According to current state law, Massachusetts’ simulcast centers, namely Suffolk Downs and Raynham Park, are allowed to have retail sportsbooks and partner with existing brands for online sportsbooks. Raynham Park has not yet secured an online license with an existing sportsbook. Suffolk Downs, on the other hand, has announced a partnership and it truly is partnering together with DraftKings to obtain its equine betting application, DK Equine, launched within Massachusetts.
Matthew Baignade started as Content Manager at PlayMA in 2022. Prior to that, he spent six years as a sports reporter and later deputy sports editor for the Des Moines Register. During his time there, he received nine statewide journalism awards, including the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Iowa Journalist Award. As deputy sports editor, Matt supervised the Register’s recruiting coverage while also spearheading innovative high school sports coverage. Matt is a graduate of San Diego State and grew up in Florida, but surprisingly, he is a Boston Celtics fan. In addition, Matthew led coverage of Proposition 26 versus Proposition 27 in the Florida sports betting election battle for Catena Media.
