Since moving to Massachusetts, Sam Panayotovich has been making two 90-minute drives each way from his home to Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut to bet on sports.
Now, with his new home joining the ranks of legal online gambling states, NESN’s “Ultimate Gambling Show” host can put an end to those journeys.
“That’s a three-hour commute to make a bet that probably won’t win, which I guess is my life,” Panayotovich told PlayMA on Friday. “The things we had to do to get the right number.
“But now I don’t have to get in my car. I can bet from the couch. It’s every day.”
He knows he’s not the only one.
Panayotovich has made a profession in gambling media
Combined with the January 31 retail launch of Ma sports betting, a day like Friday is on Panayotovich’s radar.
A Chicago native who handicapped online games for their dad’ h friends as a teenager, Panayotovich is almost a lifer in the space. The nationwide legalization wave created a niche for his expertise, which took him from home to VSiN in Las Vegas and then to the Bay State in 2020.
NESN, the Boston sports network carrying Red Sox and Bruins games, launched the “Ultimate Gambling Show” in May 2022, with Travis Jones (pictured, left) and Claudia Bellofatto (middle) joining Panayotovich. The team will also do a sponsored FanDuel betting segment during Bruins and upcoming Red Sox games on the network pre-game shows.
“The big play is the books are starting to creep into Massachusetts because it’s legal,” Panayotovich said. “Now that mobile is here, I’d imagine there’s going to be more and more things coming into the state.”
Panayotovich: Make Ma sportsbooks perspiration with reward bets
The “Ultimate Betting Show” provides information for some of the nation’s biggest sports fans as they explore their new frontier of fandom.
By middle day Friday, Panayotovich had subscribed to four from the six reside online sportsbooks in MOTHER. He was awaiting details on MOTHER sign-up marketing offers from the other two. Panayotovich mentioned the strong $100 pre-launch bonus bets offer from BetMGM Sportsbook MA also noting that DraftKings and FanDuel weren’t offering as much pre-launch due to their market dominance.
“It’s like Coke and Pepsi,” said Panayotovich, who is on Twitter in handle @spshoot. “That’s them.”
(By the way, Panayotovich suggests using the four $50 BetMGM bonus bets on longer shots to maximize return. “If they’re going to give you money, make them sweat,” he said.)
Chicago indigenous has observed Boston sports activities fever close up
Panayotovich stated that Massachusetts residents might be surprised by how many of their friends will dabble in gambling. There are plenty of sports fans ready for books to be available. According to a recent PlayMA survey, 51% of Massachusetts sports fans were already gambling before Friday.
The passionate Boston sports fandom is hard to miss, Panayotovich said.
He witnessed his Chicago Bears play the New England Patriots this past season at Gillette Stadium. After Pats QB Mac Jones threw an interception, it didn’t take long for New England fans to chant for backup Mac Jones.
“Not only are they passionate about their teams, they are opinionated about their teams,” Panayotovich said. “They can be for and against their own teams. If they don’t like their matchup: ‘Ah, this team sucks.’
“It’s the perfect fit because these fans are passionate. And I say that with the utmost respect. Their opinion translates into the bet. And there’s a lot of opinion in this state.”
Matt Schoch is the content curator for PlayMA. A native of Michigan, Schoch has worked for newspapers in Michigan, Missouri and the Virgin Islands. Schoch has covered sailing in the Great Ponds, cricket in the Caribbean, high school and professional league playoffs, and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. He is also the former web host of the Secured On Aide Podcast and producer of the documentary on Emory Bates. A former blackjack dealer, Schoch has analyzed the industry from all sides.
