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Date: 2/8/2023
SPRINGFIELD – Following years of advocacy and extensive deliberations, MGM Springfield celebrated the debut of its on-location sportsbook during a festive Jan. 31 press conference. City leaders are optimistic that the inclusion of sports betting will serve as a key economic cog for Springfield.
The event featured Mayor Domenic Sarno, various state legislators, MGM International officials, representatives from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, local business owners and National Hockey League Hall of Famer Ray Bourque.
MGM Springfield President Chris Kelley considered sports betting “a sensation that has been years in the making.” He expressed his gratitude to state legislators for working to ensure sports betting in Massachusetts, while also recognizing the gaming commission for approving MGM Springfield’s application. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission also approved the BetMGM mobile application.
“Our stars have finally aligned,” said Kelley.
MGM Springfield received a sports betting license from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Dec. 19, 2022. Crossing the sports betting license finish line was a complex process for MGM Springfield. After initially missing the deadline for the sport’s betting application, MGM Springfield presented their request on Dec. 7, 2022. The commission delayed the vote to Dec. 19, 2022 after expressing concerns sprouted from MGM Springfield’s unclear reliance upon MGM’s sports betting app, BetMGM.
Kelley’s remarks focused on the casino’s optimistic viewpoint following years of difficulties. MGM Springfield closed during the coronavirus pandemic’s March 2020 onset in the United States. It later reopened in June 2021, but concerns from city officials around the casino’s partially operational facilities and struggles to meet its goals of filling 3,000 jobs shadowed MGM Springfield. The complaints led to MGM Resorts International CEO William Hornbuckle visiting Sarno on Jan. 20 for a “productive” conversation on the casino’s future. Hornbuckle admitted the casino was not meeting expectations.
“Our original valuation of this market simply was off, full stop … We thought there would be more business here than ultimately materialized,” said Hornbuckle during the Jan. 20 press conference.
Looking ahead, Kelley aspires for the sportsbook to create positive spinoff effects throughout Springfield.
“We’re celebrating the jobs and the tax revenues [sports betting] will create, and we’re celebrating the multiplier effect of this social experience. It will be great for restaurants, for retail, for gaming [and] for our city’s economic engine,” said Kelley.
Sarno expressed similar optimism during the press conference. He declared that the city “is getting our mojo back” as growth continues to occur throughout various sectors.
“This is a hat trick … It’s good for MGM [Springfield], the spinoff effects are going to be very good for the city of Springfield and it’s good for the commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Sarno.
State Sen. Adam Gomez and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez discussed the implementation of sports betting from the legislative perspective. Gomez highlighted the lengthy process behind the legislature’s passage of sports betting in 2022 and the impact it will have upon the community.
“It was an extraordinary feat … The money that is generated [will be] infused within the community,” said Gomez.
Gonzales expressed similar sentiments around the sportsbooks’ economic opportunities.
“We so are excited about today and we are excited for the opportunity to bring revenue not only to MGM [Springfield], but the city of Springfield … We’re betting on Springfield, we’re betting on MGM [Springfield],” said Gonzales.
The implementation of MGM Springfield’s sportsbook led to the hiring of an additional 15 employees. The sportsbook is located within a “several million dollar” lounge that was constructed in August 2021. The lounge includes stadium seating and a 45-foot-long viewing wall comprised of several different TV screens.
BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt considered MGM Springfield’s sportsbook lounge the “ultimate sports viewing experience.”
“This isn’t just a sportsbook, this is an entertainment destination,” said Greenblatt.
Patrons can bet via the sportsbooks’ four in-person betting windows or 18 kiosks that are located throughout MGM Springfield’s property. The betting windows will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays, 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.
Sarno, Bourque, Gomez and Gonzales placed the first bets at the MGM Springfield sports book. Sarno, Gomez and Gonzales shared that their potential winnings will be donated to charity.
Sportsbooks also debuted throughout Massachusetts at Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville and Encore Boston Harbor in Everett on Jan. 31.
With the announcement of sports betting throughout Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced a Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program. A list tied to preventing casino activity for certain individuals has existed in Massachusetts since 2015. The new sports self-exclusion list allows people to add themselves at any time and for a selected amount of time.
MGM Springfield also operates a GameSense Information Center. At the information center, guests will also find a GameSense touchscreen that highlights responsible gaming tools. Other educational tools will be present throughout the casino, according to MGM Springfield’s press release.
Readers can learn more about MGM Springfield at https://mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com/en.html.