Encore Boston Harbor prepares for in-person sports betting

EVERETT, Mass. — Sports betting goes live next week, and the state granted licenses to allow in-person betting at its three casinos. Ever since the state approved sports betting back on July 31st, Encore Boston Harbor has been working around the clock to get ready, for when the first bet will be placed at the Everett casino next Tuesday.

From the Super Bowl through March Madness, it’s the high season of sports betting, so yea, we opened just in time,” said Jenny Holaday, President of Encore Boston Harbor.

Ever since Encore opened in June of 2019, a big piece of the traditional casino has been missing---until now. Once the state legislature gave sports betting the green light, Cncore transformed its sports bar into a sports book. Encore b=Boston Harbor President Jenny Holaday says the casino hired additional food and beverage staff, ticket writers, and all the managers and supervisors needed for not only running the sports book but the 120 kiosks located throughout the casino.

“We’ve taken a lot of measures to make sure that everyone can have access to the building,” said Holaday. “We’ve placed all of the betting kiosks throughout the resort so that we don’t create bottlenecks of crowds, so we’ve really done a lot in anticipation of what we think will be a very big launch.”

That launch happening just in time for some of the biggest sporting events of the year that encore bets will build excitement inside its sportsbook and casino.

“There’s no bigger event in America than the Super Bowl you see the ratings on television and sports books are no different, it’s a different unique experience,” said Alan Berg, Wynnbet’s Vice President of Trading. “From my experiences in Vegas, I mean people travel out for it, now you have it right across from downtown Boston you can come and get that experience and all the different prop bets on the Super Bowl so it’ll be a great time.”

One unique feature at Encore Boston Harbor is the express sports book that’s located in the parking garage. It was just approved by the mass gaming commission this past Friday, so it gives bettors the option if they don’t want to go into the casino, they can park in the garage, go inside, quickly place their bet and then head home. Sports betting officially begins in Massachusetts next Tuesday at 10 am.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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