Massachusetts bettors can now access a wide variety of online sports wagering options, as the first apps and websites have launched. The best Massachusetts sports betting operators provide tons of live NBA betting markets as well as 100-plus pre-game options on NFL odds during the season.
The bet types at Massachusetts online sportsbooks fall into these categories:
Spread
MA online sportsbooks give the team they deem to be superior a points handicap, which results in the spread. For example, you might find odds of -110 odds on the New England Patriots -2.5 against the Arizona Cardinals and -110 odds on the Cardinals +2.5. A bet on the Pats requires them to win by 3 or more points. There are always alternative spreads, and you can find similar bets, such as the run line on baseball games and the puck line for hockey.
Over/Under Totals
Massachusetts sports betting sites offer over/under wagers on the total points, runs, or goals in a game. For example, you might find -105 odds on over 6.5 goals in a Bruins game and -115 odds on under 6.5 goals. There are team totals too, plus totals on individual periods, innings, quarters, and halves. Prop bets often focus on over/under totals too, including the total points, assists, rebounds, steals, or blocks an NBA player records during a game.
Moneyline
A moneyline bet is a very simple wager on the outcome of a sports event. Massachusetts sports betting operators issue moneyline odds on each potential outcome. For example, you might find -165 odds on the Boston Celtics to beat the Los Angeles Clippers, and +145 odds on the Clippers to win that game. All the team has to do is win the game outright for a moneyline wager to cash.
Prop Bets
Player props focus on an aspect of a specific player's performance, such as a baseball player to hit a home run, a QB to throw for over or under a certain number of yards, or a basketball player to record a triple-double. Team props focus on an aspect of a team's performance, such as the number of goals a soccer team scores or the number of sacks a football team registers. There are also game props, such as the highest scoring half or quarter, or whether there will be a safety. These markets are not tethered to the outcome of a game. The top Massachusetts sportsbooks offer great NFL player props on every game throughout the entire NFL season.
Futures
Futures bets are long-term wagers, typically on the champion of a league or end-of-season awards. For example, you can bet on odds to win the Super Bowl, World Series odds, the NBA Championship, or the Stanley Cup. Additional futures include whether a team will make or miss the playoffs, or the over/under on how many regular season wins a team will have. There are player futures too, which allow bettors to wager on Cy Young odds, NBA MVP odds, or even the Heisman Trophy.
Parlays
Parlays allow you to combine two or more predictions to form a single wager. For example, you might predict that the Celtics, Wizards, 76ers, and Heat all to cover the spread one evening. All four teams need to cover for the bet to win, but parlays can result in large payouts due to their compounding nature. If a single leg of a parlay is graded as a loss, the entire bet loses. Additional parlay markets include same game parlays and round robins. For more information on parlays, check out our parlay builder.
Teasers
Teasers are parlays in which you move the lines in your favor. For the NFL, you could move the Patriots from -4.5 to the Patriots +2.5 in a 6-point teaser. This makes it seemingly easier for you to cash a bet, but it also results in a smaller payout than a standard parlay, as the odds are shifted.