MGM Springfield Opens Two Sports Lounges, Awaiting MA Senate

• MGM Springfield in Massachusetts Celebrates 3rd Anniversary, Opens Two Sports Bars
• MA Sports Betting Bill Endorsed by House, Now Awaiting Senate Approval
• Bettors Want MA Sports Betting Launch by Fall 2021, Spring 2022 More Likely

MGM Springfield in Massachusetts Celebrates 3rd Anniversary, Opens Two Sports Bars

On Tuesday, MGM Springfield celebrated its third birthday by launching two high-tech sports lounges that Massachusetts bettors will be able to fully enjoy once sports betting becomes legal in their state.

The new multi-million dollar main lounge is located on the casino floor and features a 45-foot state of the Art HD viewing wall, more than 70 individual lounge seats, and (eventually) sports betting through the bet-MGM platform.

The second more intimate lounge is inside the casino’s Tap Sports Bar, also with an HD-tv wall, plus plush couches, and a “special” culinary menu created by the highly touted Tap chefs.

MGM Springfield is a $1 billion hotel and casino complex located in the center of Metro Center in Springfield, Massachusetts that generated $23.71 million in gross gaming revenue last month alone from their popular onsite and online casino business.

Imagine what that number might look like once sports betting profits are added in.

MA Sports Betting Bill Endorsed by House, Now Awaiting Senate Approval

Last month, the Massachusetts House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed proposed sports betting bill (H3977) and then sent it on to the state Senate for its approval, a piece of legislation that is estimated to generate annual tax revenue of $60 million once it becomes a law.

MGM Springfield President and COO Chris Kelley is looking forward to making this a financial reality for his business, especially after having to close the casino for four months in 2020 due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

As Kelley told the press at the opening of his casino’s two new sports lounges:

Our best days still lie before us… We’re very optimistic that we’ll see legislation later this year in the event that we have the opportunity to start taking bets, this is the room, we’re ready to rock and roll, and we’re looking forward to taking bets at MGM Springfield.

Bettors Want MA Sports Betting Launch by Fall 2021, Spring 2022 More Likely

While a fall 2021 launch date would be preferred by industry leaders and MA gamblers, it looks like that might have to be pushed back to 2022 due to the inevitable political red tape that a controversial bill like this must endure.

But every month of delay means a lag in the race against neighboring states to fully capitalize on the upcoming NFL season, something that state Senator Eric Lesser, the bill’s lead sponsor, understands all too well.

I think the fact that you’ve seen Rhode Island and New Hampshire get their markets set up with New York and Connecticut not far behind puts some added pressure on Massachusetts to get moving, but it is by no means a done deal.

Though Lesser understands that some Senators are still “skeptical” of legal sports betting in the Codfish State, he is confident that it is what Massachusetts citizens want, telling the press:

I walk the floor (of the casino) every day and if there is one question I get more than any other it is ‘When will I be able to place a (sports) bet at MGM Springfield?

Keep checking back here for the answer to that question – we’ll have all the latest updates.