Massachusetts Horse Racing Betting Sites

Massachusetts Online Horse Racing Betting Law

The Division of Racing under the Massachusetts Gaming Commission regulates horse racing in the state, implements the law, adopts regulations as needed and issues licenses to all racing industry employees. Advance deposit wagering (ADW) is legal in Massachusetts for customers 18 or older.

Section 5C of the law on horse racing deals with Massachusetts ADWs and lays out some basic regulations, such as prohibiting betting sites from extending credit to customers.

All mainstream ADWs are active in Massachusetts and offer wagering on local and national races alike. The most experienced Massachusetts horse racing betting sites include:

In addition to advance deposit wagering, Massachusetts law allows wagers on horse and greyhound races held elsewhere via off-track betting facilities. The rules under Chapter 128A and 128C cover pari-mutuel pools, care of animals, patron disputes, unclaimed winnings and licensing of off-track betting parlors, racetracks and betting apps.

The key laws and regulations related to Massachusetts online horse racing betting:

• MA General Law Chapter 128A (Horse and Dog Racing Meetings)
• MA General Law Chapter 128C (Simulcast Wagering of Horse and Dog Racing)
• Additional regulations adopted by the Division of Racing

Massachusetts Horse Race Tracks

Massachusetts is home to one active horse racing track and two simulcasting facilities. The race track at Plainridge Park Casino hosts live harness racing and simulcast wagering, while Raynham Park operates an OTB despite no longer offering live racing.

Plainridge Park Race Track

301 Washington Street
Plainville, MA 02762

Plainridge Racecourse is attached to Plainridge Park Casino and offers live harness racing from April through November each year. Standard race days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Th track also features races on Sundays in late September and October. Simulcast wagering is available Wednesdays through Sundays.

Penn National Gaming operates the track and racecourse and holds the state’s only slots license. As a result, Plainridge Park Casino is authorized to host video poker, video blackjack, other electronic games, and up to 1,250 slot machines. Simulcast wagering is also offered seven days a week.

There are multiple restaurant options available both trackside and inside the casino. Guests must be at least 21 to enter the casino floor. The property does not have lodging, but discounted rates are available for PENNPLAY members at nearby partner hotels.

Suffolk Downs

525 McClellan Highway
East Boston, MA 02128

Suffolk Downs was in operation continuously for 79 years and was very prominent during its heyday. Competition from other forms of gambling and entertainment ate into the track’s profits in its later years, and in 2014, Suffolk Downs announced it would end live racing.

The track reopened briefly in 2018 and began hosting races, but the comeback only lasted a short time. Suffolk Downs ended live racing once again the following year. Later, Suffolk Downs’ parent company Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC turned its attention to refurbishing the Great Barrington Fairgrounds to bring live racing back there, but it abandoned that plan in 2021.

A development company purchased Suffolk Downs in 2017 and later converted the property into a concert venue and mixed-use residential area.

Massachusetts Off-Track Betting Locations

Massachusetts off-track betting facilities (OTBs) are located at active or defunct race tracks. There are two Massachusetts OTBs available to fans today. Each of the following tracks houses an OTB with simulcast wagering on races held in Massachusetts and elsewhere:

• Raynham Park – 1958 Broadway, Raynham
  Raynham Park held greyhound races until voters banned dog racing in 2009. The track now operates as a simulcast betting parlor six days a week.
• Plainridge Park Casino – 301 Washington Street, Plainville
  In addition to live harness racing, Plainridge Park offers daily simulcast wagering.

Major Massachusetts Horse Races

Massachusetts does not host any notable thoroughbred horse races, but Plainridge Park Racecourse hosts four major harness racing events each year.

• Battle of Bunker Hill Trot: $100,000 purse, open to 3yo trotters, held in May at Plainridge Park
• Clara Barton Pace: $100,000 purse, open to 3yo+ filly and mare pacers, held in July at Plainridge Park
• Paul Revere Pace: $100,000 purse, open to 3yo pacers, held in April at Plainridge Park
• Spirit of Massachusetts Trot: $250,000 purse, open to 3yo+ trotters, held in July at Plainridge Park

Massachusetts Horse Racing Betting FAQ