In addition to the Red Sox, Pats, Celtics and Bruins, Boston’s sports pantheon includes the famed Boston Marathon. It’s no wonder DraftKings submitted a request to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) on March 31 seeking permission to allow betting on the race.
“There are about 70 participants in the professional field for the 2023 marathon. DraftKings will only be offering the top 20 men & women professional winners and men & women winning time (over/under) for wagering,” the DraftKings request states.
A DraftKings spokesperson said the event is already available for wagering in Kansas, Oregon and Wyoming, where their sportsbook also operates. Odds for the Boston Marathon are not yet posted in those states.
If granted permission, DraftKings said it would accept wagers on outright or futures, in which players bet on whether an athlete wins or how they place in the outcome of the race.
“DraftKings is continuously looking to offer our customers a safe and robust menu of betting markets across the biggest events in sports and we are actively working with regulators to bring the Boston Marathon to our sportsbook,” a company spokesperson said.
When sports wagering began in Massachusetts earlier this year, the MGC issued an approved catalog of events. The Boston Marathon was not included in the list.
