Massachusetts mobile sports betting licenses may be on the way

Gaming regulators may begin greenlighting mobile sports betting licenses today.

News promotion: The regulator today launched a series of separate meetings to review applications from mobile sports betting companies seeking casino-linked licenses.

• WynnBET and Caesars Sportsbook are seeking licenses tethered to Encore Boston Harbor.
• BetMGM seeks a license tethered to MGM Springfield.
• Penn Sports Interactive and Fanatics Sportsbook are seeking licenses tied to Plainridge Park Casino.

Important reasons: If approved, these companies would be Massachusetts’ first mobile sports operators and another step in the state’s efforts to legalize the industry.

• Legislators earlier this year predicted that the new industry would bring in at least $60 million annually in tax revenue and more than $70 million in licensing fees every five years.

note: Regulators approve licenses temporarily, and states review applicants for permanent licenses.

Catch up soon: Regulators approved the first in-person betting license for Encore Boston Harbor last week.

• Everett Casino and other in-person operators can start accepting wagers before the Super Bowl.
• Mobile sportsbooks, including those tethered to Encore, are expected to begin betting around early March, according to regulators.

What’s next: Regulators are still debating whether to tax or limit free bets used for promotion, but that wasn’t addressed in the bill Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law this summer.

• They discussed the implications at yesterday’s meeting, but postponed the vote.