Massachusetts sportsbooks failed to match last May's lofty numbers, but operators still posted an 11.4% hold during the latest reporting period.
Key Takeaways
- Sportsbooks posted a double-digit hold for the fourth time in 2026.
- Online operators won back over $71 million.
- FanDuel produced a strong showing in May.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) recently reported that operators made $72.1 million in gross profits from a $632.1-million handle. The 11.4% hold was down from May 2025’s spectacular 12.6% win rate, but operators kept over 10% for the fourth time in 2026.
The handle fell 3.6% from a year earlier after the Boston Celtics played just one playoff game in May, bowing out in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics reached the Eastern Conference finals last year, which produced the most-bet May since Massachusetts sports betting went live in 2023.
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Online books do heavy lifting
The Boston Bruins also failed to get out of the first round in the NHL playoffs, leaving Bay State residents to wager on other basketball and hockey postseason teams and the MLB’s Boston Red Sox, who went 13-14 in May, including 4-11 at home.
Online sportsbooks did well, winning back $71.6 million in Massachusetts revenue on a $625-million handle for the month. The Bay State’s three retail operators produced a less impressive 7.5% hold on $7.1 million in wagers.
The state generated $14.1 million in tax revenue from $70.6 million in adjusted revenue, filling Massachusetts’ coffers with nearly $75 million year-to-date.
FanDuel keeps 13%
| Online Operator | May Handle | Gross Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | $306.5 million | $35.1 million |
| FanDuel | $158.7 million | $20.7 million |
| Fanatics Sportsbook | $70.5 million | $7.5 million |
| BetMGM | $46.5 million | $4.7 million |
| Caesars | $21.3 million | $1.7 million |
| theScore Bet | $17.5 million | $1.7 million |
DraftKings’ handle fell by $25 million compared to the previous May, but the online operator still dominated the state with $306.5 million in wagers and $35.1 million in gross revenue.
The 11.5% hold was second best in the Bay State behind FanDuel, which won back an impressive 13.1% of a $158.7-million handle. No other online operators reached $10 million in monthly revenue. Still, Fanatics’ revenue spiked 27% from the previous May while the year-over-year handle rose from $46.3 million to $70.5 million, producing a 10.6% hold.
BetMGM cleared 10% on a $46.5-million handle. Caesars reached just 8.1% on over $21 million in wagers, while theScore Bet narrowly missed a double-digit hold, winning $1.7 million in gross revenue from a $17.5-million handle.
Bally Bet produced the lowest hold, winning back just 3.5% on over $4 million in wagers.
