Caesars plans to open a retail sportsbook in Massachusetts at Raynham Park, it announced Monday. The retail sportsbook is pending regulatory approval by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Caesars Sportsbook was previously approved for a mobile sports betting license, and the operator is expected to launch its mobile platform in Massachusetts along with other operators in March. Retail sports betting will begin in the state on Jan. 31, although Caesars did not specify its retail launch date.
“Caesars Sportsbook is the strongest retail sports gaming brand in the industry and we are extremely proud to announce our partnership,” Raynham Park Owner Chris Carney said in a press release. “Our sportsbook will be one of the largest sports gaming destinations not only in Massachusetts, but in the United States. With Caesars’ legendary commitment to quality and integrity, Raynham Park will be a world-class venue that will set a new standard for gaming in Massachusetts.”
Sportsbook details
Raynham Park is a simulcast racing center in Raynham, which is about 40 miles south of Boston. The location used to be a popular dog racing park, but legislation shut that operation down about a decade ago. The business has sought a new revenue source since, with sports betting becoming a logical next step.
It’s worth noting that Caesars recently launched its racebook in Massachusetts. The racebook offers customers a horse racing wagering menu with livestreaming from race tracks across the globe.
The permanent sportsbook at Raynham Park is expected to be a 30,000-square-foot facility, and there will still be horse racing simulcast betting at the location. The facility will first open as a temporary sportsbook inside the current simulcasting facility.
‘A sports bar, with fine dining, on steroids,’ is coming to Raynham Park in Caesars sportsbook deal https://t.co/VYkmQbxUzT via @BostonGlobe
— Jon Chesto (@jonchesto) January 23, 2023
Caesars hopes a new, permanent location will be completed by the middle of the year. Caesars referred to the building as “one of the biggest standalone sports betting and pari-mutuel simulcasting establishments in the U.S.”
“Raynham Park is in an excellent location in southeast Massachusetts and will be one of just a few retail sports betting locations in the Commonwealth,” Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, said in a press release. “It’s great to partner with the Carney family, which has a long history in the community and an exciting vision for a tremendous sports entertainment and parimutuel simulcasting facility.”