Massachusetts closed out the year with its strongest month yet for sports wagering, as December delivered record revenue and tax contributions from betting activity across the state. Data released by regulators showed that sports betting continued to outpace expectations even as traditional casino gaming posted a year-on-year decline.
Adjusted gross sports betting revenue reached $98.5 million in December, setting a new monthly record. The total exceeded the previous high established in November by 3.8% and marked a 71.3% increase compared with December of the prior year. The month also produced the highest tax revenue ever recorded from sports wagering in the state.
Online betting continued to account for the vast majority of activity. Of the total taxable revenue, $97.1 million came from mobile platforms, while land-based sportsbooks contributed $1.3 million. Gross gaming revenue before adjustments reached $102.5 million, passing the $100 million threshold for the first time since sports betting launched.
Handle Growth Slows After November Peak
Bettors placed $845.3 million in wagers during December. While that figure surpassed December 2024 by 7.2%, it did not match November’s record handle of $914.7 million, representing a month-over-month decline of 7.6%.
Sportsbooks collectively posted a statewide hold of 11.65% for the month. The figure reflected continued pricing strength among operators despite the slight drop in wagering volume compared with the previous month.
Market Share Remains Concentrated Online
DraftKings maintained its position as the leading sportsbook in Massachusetts. The operator generated $53.4 million in taxable revenue from $447.5 million in bets, resulting in an 11.93% hold. FanDuel followed with $25.6 million from $202.2 million in wagers, producing a 12.66% hold.
Fanatics ranked third with $8.3 million in revenue from $79.2 million in handle, while BetMGM reported $5.5 million from $50.4 million. Penn National’s theScore Bet recorded $2.3 million in revenue on $24.1 million in wagers.
Caesars posted $1.6 million from $25.5 million, and Bally Bet generated $397,137 from $4.6 million in bets. Among retail sportsbooks, Encore Boston Harbor led with $654,688 in revenue and an 11.42% hold. The remaining retail revenue was split between MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino.
Casino Gaming Revenue Declines Year on Year
While sports betting reached new highs, land-based casino gaming moved in the opposite direction. Gross gaming revenue across the state’s three commercial casinos totaled $97.9 million, a 4.5% decline compared with the same month last year and lower than November 2025.
Slot machines generated $69.5 million, while table games contributed $28.4 million. Encore Boston Harbor remained the top-performing casino with $61.8 million in revenue, followed by MGM Springfield at $21.9 million and Plainridge Park Casino at $14.1 million.
Combined tax revenue from sports betting and casino gaming reached $47.5 million for the month. Sports wagering accounted for a record $19.6 million of that total, with land-based casinos contributing $27.9 million.
Source:
“The Massachusetts Gaming Commission Releases December 2025 Casino and Sports Wagering Revenue”, massgaming.com, January 20, 2026
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