Massachusetts State Gambling Law

“The Bay State,” has several gambling laws that are a bit unusual and not necessarily clear when it comes to determining why the laws exist.  While ‘Massachusetts residents can fully engage in horse wagering, dog race wagers, charitable raffles, and bazaars, casinos are not permitted in Massachusetts at this time.  What’s bizarre about Massachusetts gambling laws is that the law also restricts the act of conducting any gaming within a one mile radius of cattle shows!  No betting at the local bowling alley in or in any pool halls are permitted in “The Bay State,” either.  It seems that when it comes to great gambling offers, the state of Massachusetts is keeping some of the most fantastic games available “at bay,” and away from the residents within the state that would otherwise enjoy them.  The latter laws are immensely restrictive and defined in the state’s penal code 271.

While there is not a land based gambling establishment within the state’s boundaries, gamblers can venture on a cruise and enjoy gaming. The problem is that the only cruise offering in Massachusetts offering gambling options to residents in the area heads southbound for the winter months.  When the ship is in operation, poker games and table game variations are offered to the hopeful gambler.  However, limited seasonal offers do not make the gaming readily accessible year round.  Currently there are two dog track racing establishment in the cities of Raynham and Revere.  Gamblers can bet on horses if they head for the cities of East Boston or Plainville.  In the meantime, Massachusetts’s Native American peoples are struggling to get approval for casino operations.  As recently as August of 2008, the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe has been attempting to negotiate with the state in order to offer a land based casino establishment in the state of Massachusetts.

In the meantime, Massachusetts gambling hopefuls can utilize their Internet access to play online variants of typical Vegas style casino offerings.  The creation of a basic account where the gambler can gamble against deposited funds exposes the gambler to a fine list of virtual casino benefits, perks, and gaming.  Everything from traditional table games to a shot at the Roulette wheel are served up on the Internet and delivered on high tech, high quality, highly supported and intensely realistic software applications.  Easy account management and processing, rapid payouts, simplistic financial tracking tools and gaming diversity are all part and parcel of the online gambling experience.  It is perfectly legal for Bay State residents to partake in online offers as no laws prevent them from doing so at this time.