Massachusetts sports betting activity rose sharply in July as the FIFA World Cup helped push wagering higher across the state. Online and retail sportsbooks accepted $592.6 million in bets, a 21% increase from the $485.9 million recorded in July 2025.
The result marked the first month since August 2025 in which Massachusetts betting handle fell below $600 million. Despite that decline from recent monthly levels, operator revenue climbed 36.2% year over year to $67 million.
The World Cup contributed significantly to the summer results. Across June and July, Massachusetts online sportsbooks generated more than $122 million in gross revenue from approximately $1.2 billion in wagers.
July Delivers Stronger Operator Returns
The statewide win rate reached 11.3% in July, marking the fourth-highest figure of 2026. Operators had recorded their second sub-10% hold of the year in June before profitability improved the following month.
Team USA’s elimination by Belgium in the round of 16, combined with losses by several heavily backed teams on three-way moneylines, helped operators recover stronger margins in July.
DraftKings remained the largest sportsbook by handle, taking $281.2 million in wagers. Its $33 million in gross revenue came from an 11.7% hold, while its handle increased 19% compared with July 2025.
FanDuel ranked second after accepting $150.6 million and producing $17.2 million in revenue from an 11.4% hold. Fanatics Sportsbook followed with $59.7 million in wagers and $6.6 million in revenue.
BetMGM recorded the highest hold among the major operators at 12.4%, generating $6.5 million from $52.8 million in bets. TheScore Bet handled $22 million and earned $1.7 million, moving ahead of Caesars, which accepted $17.6 million and generated $1.2 million.
Bally Bet posted a 12% hold on $3.3 million, while Caesars recorded the lowest hold among the listed online operators at below 8%.
World Cup Lifts Tax Contribution
Massachusetts collected $13.1 million in sports betting tax revenue during July. Across June and July, tax receipts reached nearly $24 million, representing a 9% increase from the comparable period in 2025.
The broader US market showed a similar World Cup effect. Among 18 states that had reported July figures, two-thirds recorded handle growth of at least 25% from the same month a year earlier.
Indiana posted a 42% increase, followed by Tennessee at 38%, Maryland at 36% and New York at 34%.
Retail sportsbooks in Massachusetts produced a weaker performance. Encore Boston Harbor recorded a 9.7% win rate on $2.9 million in wagers, while Plainridge Park Casino achieved a 9.9% hold from just under $2 million.
MGM Springfield generated no revenue from $678,454 in bets. Overall, retail sportsbooks posted an 8.6% hold, producing less than $70,000 in tax revenue.
The July figures show how the World Cup affected betting activity in Massachusetts while also contributing to stronger results across several major US markets. With the tournament’s knockout rounds providing additional betting opportunities, sportsbooks recorded substantial revenue gains even as the state’s monthly handle remained below the $600 million threshold.
Source:
“World Cup Helps Spike Massachusetts Sports Betting, Revenue in July”, sports.yahoo.com, August 21, 2026
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