Massachusetts Online Lottery Debut Pushed Back To 2026 Due To Funding Issue

Image showing a time delay with a clock and the word "delay" along with the Massachusetts Lottery logo for a story about the Massachusetts iLottery launch being delayed because of the lack of funding from the state.

The state of Massachusetts will be adding iLottery in the future. The question right now is just when that will be.

When Massachusetts decided to join the states with online lotteries by adding it to its budget in July, the timeline called for 16 months, which would have been the end of 2025.

However, that 16-month timeline has yet to start due to funding issues.

Now, different officials in the state are projecting Q1 or Q2 of 2026 for its iLottery launch.

Treasurer says April 2026 launch for Massachusetts iLottery

Plans for an online lottery in Massachusetts came together quickly during the month of July.

Gov. Maura Healey signed the latest state budget late that month. It featured iLottery expansion after lawmakers came together to get the platform inserted.

Included in the launch will be multistate draw games, in-state draw titles, and a variety of eInstant options.

Original plans called for about a 16-month installment to get the online lottery off the ground. That would have seen it start late in 2025.

Now, Massachusetts Treasurer Deb Goldberg announced a launch date of April 2026 on Tuesday. She also estimated the first year of iLottery would only bring in $70 million, which is below the $100 million that was projected during budget planning.

Online lottery delay stems from problems with funding

The delay of the Massachusetts iLottery is caused by $2.5 million in government funding to get it off the ground floor having not arrived yet.

Massachusetts Lottery Director Mark William Bracken spoke to MassLive on the matter:

“Unfortunately, we have not received funding yet to do anything with online lottery. We’re waiting for the House and Senate to take that fiscal year 2024 close out budget … once we get that $2.5 million, that’s really when the 16-month clock starts ticking.”

Bracken informed MassLive that the state lottery has had conversations with different platforms and vendors for the future iLottery. However, without the funding, nothing can progress further.

Bracken also noted in an interview with La Fleur’s that vendors Pollard Banknote, Scientific Games, and NeoGames/Aristocrat Interactive all worked together to help Massachusetts secure an iLottery. Despite being competitors, they recognized the potential for added business for their respective companies.

Bracken forecasts a slightly quicker timeline

In the interview with La Fleur’s, Bracken presented a quicker iLottery launch timeline than Goldberg:

“Best-case scenario, we could go live by December of next year, but anywhere between December 2025 and March 2026 is a realistic timeframe. The key for us is to do this right. I don’t want to launch in phases or leave anything unfinished. When we go live, I want it to be with a full suite of options so that players know exactly what to expect from us. If that means it takes a little longer, I’m okay with that.”

Aside from the funding issue, Bracken noted that the state’s policy to operate in-house, not with a vendor, will also impact timing:

“Massachusetts tends to do things a little differently, particularly with our central gaming system. Unlike other states that rely on specific vendors to run parts of their operations, we handle everything in-house with our own staff. Most states can get up and running within six to eight months, but we anticipate a longer timeline because we still have a lot of questions about how this will all tie together. Our IT is completely in-house, so we’re aiming for around 16 months, though it could stretch to 18 depending on how things progress.”

 

Photo by azrin_aziri via Shutterstock
Graphic from the Massachusetts Lottery

About the Author

Drew Ellis

Drew Ellis

Lead Writer
A member of Catena Media since 2020, Drew Ellis is the Lead Writer at PlayiLottery, where he handles coverage of the online lottery industry in the US. He previously spearheaded news content at PlayMichigan, where he covered one of the most prominent online lottery industries in the US — among the many other aspects of Michigan's sprawling iGaming market. You can email him at [email protected].
To Top