Andrew O'Malley 12. November 2020 | UPDATED ON: 18. April 2022 Online poker is huge no matter where you go in the world. It allows you to get into a poker game at the drop of a hat from the comfort of your own home. While online poker is not regulated in Massachusetts, there are some great offshore platforms that you can use instead. If you want to play online poker in Massachusetts, this guide is for you. It will walk you through the ins and outs of the online poker legal situation in the state of Massachusetts, as well as showing you the best offshore poker sites. Top 3 Online poker Sites in Massachusetts, MA, USA For fans of real money online poker in Massachusetts, there is a good range of offshore sites you can check out that accept US poker players. After conducting a lot of in-depth research, here are the best three poker platforms for people in the Commonwealth: Slot Title Pay Back Key Features 1 Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $500 Fast-Fold Zone Poker OptionsPayout Speed: InstantPoker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $500Play NowOur score: Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $500Read more2 Poker bonus: $2,000 in deposit bonuses Superb player trafficPayout Speed: InstantPoker bonus: $2,000 in deposit bonusesPlay NowOur score: Poker bonus: $2,000 in deposit bonusesRead more3 Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $3,000 Anonymous TablesPayout Speed: <24 hoursPoker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $3,000Play NowOur score: Poker bonus: 100% first deposit bonus up to $3,000Read more Is online poker in Massachusetts legal? No At the moment, online poker is not legal under Massachusetts state laws. While there have been attempts in recent years by lawmakers in the Massachusetts legislature to legalize the activity, no Senate or House bills to date have been successful. State Senator Bruce Tarr has attempted to legalize online poker in the past on a few occasions. Online gambling itself is not legal in the region, but the main penalties are reserved for those who are accepting bets and running illegal gambling operations. There is live poker at poker rooms in some of the commercial casinos in Massachusetts. You will find a good selection of games at the likes of the Nevada-style casinos, the MGM Springfield, and the Wynn Resorts-owned Encore Boston Harbor. The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is also looking at developing a casino in the state. Other forms of legal gambling in Massachusetts Currently, there is no legal sports betting either in the state. While this looks like it will change in the next few years, residents have to rely on offshore sportsbooks for now. Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are allowable through the likes of FanDuel and Boston-based DraftKings. Casino gambling has been legal for the past years, allowing you to play popular table games and slot machines. Governor Deval Patrick signed the Expanded Gaming Act into law in 2011 to allow for casino gambling. There is also racing and a slots parlor at the Plainridge Park Casino in the Bay State. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission oversees all of the casino operations in the region. Currently, there are no online casinos, so once more, residents need to rely on offshore platforms. The nearby Mohegan Sun is a competitor for the casinos in Massachusetts. Horse racing betting is common in Massachusetts, with pari-mutuel wagering available at a number of racetracks. Charitable gambling is heavily regulated, with non-profits only able to offer games of chance that don’t have prizes in excess of $100. Finally, the state lottery is one of the biggest in the country and is a great source of funds for many public programs through its various jackpot games. Our Recommended Online Poker Site in Massachusetts Our Rating Trusted platform 200% first deposit bonus to $1,000 Large player base Big tournament selection Claim Your Bonus Now Top 3 online poker sites that accept players from Massachusetts If you are looking to get started on your Massachusetts poker journey online today, there are a few main platforms to consider. Each of these choices has good liquidity and a great selection of games, as well as being trustworthy. Have a look at the reviews and see which suits your needs the best. 1. Everygame Poker - Well-respected (200% deposit bonus to $1,000) Everygame Poker has been operating for over 20 years and it has a loyal player base. It shares its player pool with other platforms, which means that there is always going to be plenty of action no matter what time of the day you are looking to play. You can download the client directly onto your desktop or you can simply play through your browser if you prefer. You will come across a lot of different Texas Hold’em and Omaha cash games variations, with lower stakes games being particularly popular. There are guaranteed prize poker tournaments on a regular basis, which is ideal for players who are so inclined. With a range of payment methods and 24/7 support, the overall experience at Everygame Poker is a good one. If you sign up for a new account you will get a 200% first deposit bonus up to $1,000, in addition to 25 free spins at the online casino. Our Rating Trusted platform 200% first deposit bonus to $1,000 Large player base Big tournament selection No mobile app Claim Your Bonus 2. Ignition Poker - Large player base ($2,000 welcome bonuses) Ignition Poker (formerly called Bodog) looks after US players with an easy to use offering. It is one of the bigger offshore sites and there are plenty of tournaments with guaranteed prizes on a daily basis. The games are usually loose and fun, with a lot of recreational players having accounts on the site. While there are only a few different transaction options, there will normally be an option to get the job done. With at least a thousand players always online, you’ll never suffer from not being able to get a game. In a lot of ways, it feels similar to global sites like Pokerstars or WSOP due to the liquidity. If you are looking to get started with a new account at Ignition Poker, there is an array of welcome bonuses totaling $2,000 that you can get your hands on. Our Rating Big player pool Guaranteed daily tournaments Great reputation Welcome bonuses totaling $2,000 Limited options for payouts Claim Your Bonus 3. Bovada Poker - One of the best (100% first deposit bonus up to $500) Bovada Poker has been operating for many years and it also is popular in the internet poker space. Having its base in Costa Rica, it is a popular choice for people in Massachusetts. HUDs are eliminated thanks to the anonymous games, leveling the playing field. With a strong player base, all of your needs are covered no matter what variants or game types you are looking for. Most tournaments will be guaranteed and take place pretty much every day. The only downside is that certain events cannot be played on mobile. For those signing up for a new account with Bovada Poker, you will get your first deposit matched 100% up to $500. Our Rating Large player base Many great game options 100% first deposit bonus up to $500 Optimized mobile app Not every tournament playable via mobile Claim Your Bonus How we rate the best Massachusetts online poker sites You can rate the merits of online poker sites in many different ways. Everyone will have their own preferences, but there are certain variables that need to be consistent across the board. This is how we whittle down the long list of available platforms, by seeing which offerings tick most boxes. This gives us a shortlist to take a closer look at. Here are some of the key areas to look at when it comes to online poker sites: Availability of poker variants Liquidity and player base Platform’s reputation Regular promotions Welcome offer Tournament selection Variation of cash game stakes Customer support Payment options Rewards program Mobile support What to consider when choosing a poker site Once you have your shortlist of a few different poker sites, you can then finalize your decision with a few key steps. The easiest way to do so is by defining what are your main preferences in a platform and then ranking the options in that way. Some people may have a preference for a strong mobile offering, while others want a decent rewards program. Here are certain key variables to consider: Legal standing As there is no legal online poker in Massachusetts, you should look to see if a site is licensed elsewhere. Check out their reliability and track record with other players to make sure that they are fair. Payment options You want to be sure that a given platform has some payment methods that suit your needs. Also check their processing speeds and any fees that may be attached to them. Player base Perhaps the most important aspect is making sure that there is a good base of players at any given platform. This means that you will always be able to get into a game of your choice. Promotions There are often welcome offers associated with signing up for a new online poker account. You may also get regular tournament freerolls and cashback. Finally, check the reward program on offer. Customer support For any problem you may have, it is always nice being able to quickly and easily get in touch with the customer support team. Have a look at the available contact options and response times. Game selection It is important that your preferred game types are offered by a platform. This means checking the range of tournaments, cash games or sit and gos that you enjoy playing. The future of online gambling in Massachusetts With the push to legalize sports betting in the state, this could be the step forward that is needed. It could act as a stepping stone for the expansion of gambling laws in other ways, such as allowing online poker and online gaming. Having said that, legal online poker does look like it is a few years off in Massachusetts. Therefore, you will likely have to rely on offshore platforms for the near future. Nearby states like Michigan, New Hampshire, and Connecticut are also considering expansion. Where else is online gambling legal in the US? Online gambling is gradually expanding across the United States. The catalyst for a lot of this movement was the Supreme Court ending the federal ban on sports betting ban. Many states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois a Rhode Island all have online sports betting in a regulated manner. More states are constantly joining this list, as well as getting involved in the online casino and poker spaces. With lawmakers seeing the tax revenues that come from regulated online gaming, they are starting to get more used to the idea of expansion even in more traditionally conservative states. If you want to check the legality of internet gambling in a certain area of the United States, here is an interactive map you can use: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC Best online casinos in Massachusetts For people who enjoy playing online casino games, there are a lot of leading offshore platforms you can check out today. This allows you to play everything from blackjack to roulette, baccarat, and slots. Here are the best options for people in Massachusetts today: Slots.lv Play With Up to $5,000 In Bonuses Visit Now Read Review Red Dog 225% Welcome Bonus + 20% for BTC deposits! Visit Now Read Review Café Casino Claim Up To $5,000 Welcome Bonus Visit Now Read Review Intertops 250% Up to $5,000 Bonus + Free Spins Visit Now Read Review Bottom line Online poker is very popular in Massachusetts and there is a lot of hope that it can become a regulated market in the future. Until then, you can depend on offshore platforms that are tried and tested, with great player bases and tons of exciting opportunities for you to try out today. FAQs What is the legal gambling age in Massachusetts? You need to be at least 21 years old in order to go to the commercial casinos and gamble. This is because there is alcohol served on the gaming floors. For those who are looking to place bets on horse races or to buy a lottery ticket, you can do so if you are 18 years old. Most online poker sites will require you to be at least 18 years old in order to sign up and play. Can you play mobile online poker in Massachusetts? A lot of the offshore poker platforms will have a mobile offering. This means that you can download an app or just play through your mobile device’s web browser. How do the offshore online poker sites make money? A lot of people wonder why offshore poker sites are successful and stick around. They make their money by taking a cut of every pot in a cash game or a portion of every entry fee into a tournament. What is the advantage of using an online poker rewards program? If you enroll into such a loyalty program, you will be earning points every time you place a bet or enter a tournament. These points add up over time and you can often redeem the points for cash back and other types of offers. What is the most common online poker welcome bonus? Welcome offers when you sign up for an account with a given platform will vary from time to time. The most common offer you will come across will be deposit bonuses. About Andrew O'Malley Alex has been writing about the gambling industry for more than five years, covering everything from sports betting to casinos and poker. With the sector constantly evolving, he loves nothing better than staying up to date with the latest movers and shakers in the space. View all posts by Andrew O'Malley →
