Publication Signup
Keep updated on all the most recent information from Boston.com
Native
Encore Boston Harbor was permitted for the state’s first sports activities wagering operator license Thursday.
Massachusetts Sports activities Betting: Complete information and updates
FanDuel promo code: This ‘No Sweat First Wager’ bonus provide nets enormous increase
The Massachusetts Gaming Fee voted unanimously in favor of awarding the license following a presentation from representatives of the on line casino and a overview of its software, the MGC stated in a release.
Encore Boston Harbor should now acquire a certificates of operations meet “extra situations” earlier than folks can begin putting bets there, the MGC stated.
The MGC beforehand set a aim of launching retail sports activities wagering on the three casinos in Massachusetts in January. This timeline would enable folks to position bets on the Tremendous Bowl in early February.
“Extra data on a common launch day for retail sports activities betting can be launched within the coming weeks,” the MGC stated.
State lawmakers agreed to legalize sports activities betting on Aug. 1.
Keep updated on all the most recent information from Boston.com
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
As the mercury rises, so do home prices.
A harbinger of that is the report today by The Warren Group, which shows the cost of a single-family home climbed 10% in February in the Bay State, with a new median price of $548,250.
“February was another record-setting month for median single-family home prices as sales activity
was flat on a year-over-year basis,” said Cassidy Norton of The Warren Group. “A lack of inventory is the biggest factor driving these trends, and with fewer and fewer homes hitting the market, we can fully expect to see more recording-setting prices paired with a low sales volume in the coming months.”
The report lists 2,042 single-family homes sold in Massachusetts during February. That’s flat year-over-year — or up 0.1% with 4,434 home sold in 2023 vs 4,438 this past February, the report states.
The median condo price increased 6.5% on a year-over-year basis to $490,000.
Condo sales also increased 5.8% when compared to last February, with 1,017 sales vs 1,076 closings this winter, the report adds.
“Although condo sales increased 5.8% in February on a year-over-year basis, activity is still
nowhere near what we saw even two or three years ago,” Norton said. “Record high prices and
high-interest rates are likely a big factor in the long-term decline in activity, and prospective
buyers shouldn’t expect much relief in the near future.”
The Fed is meeting this week, and all eyes are on the benchmark interest rate but don’t bet on any immediate relief.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his fellow Fed officials are expected to play it safe and keep rates frozen, according to multiple reports.
The Fed’s benchmark rate stands at about 5.4%, the highest level in 23 years, after a series of 11 rate hikes that were intended to curb the worst inflation in four decades but have also made borrowing much more expensive for consumers and businesses, the Associated Press reports.
Mortgage rates are hovering near 7.2% for a 30-year fixed rate, with other similar rates being promoted for slightly less. “Upper” 6% rates are also in play as of Monday, with Business Insider stating “hotter-than-expected economic data has helped push them back up.”
As for Greater Boston, the housing picture is even more costly.
The Warren Group report states the median price of a single-family home has soared 11.9% year-over-year in February from $620,000 to $693,750. That’s for the 139 towns located within Interstate 495. Condo prices are also up 5.7%.
There’s not much movement in Boston, where single-family home sales — though very rare — climb past $1 million, statistics show. The same holds true for Cambridge, Arlington, Dover, Belmont, Brookline, Concord, Edgartown, Hingham, Lexington, Lincoln, Needham, Wellesley, Weston, and Westwood.
The PWHL trade deadline came and went Monday, bringing about two last-day swaps. One brought Roslindaleâs Caitrin Lonergan back home to Boston.
Boston acquired the rights to forwards Lonergan, who spent three seasons at Boston College from 2016-19, and Lexie Adzija from Ottawa for forward Shiann Darkangelo. The 26-year-old Lonergan was twice a finalist for the Patty Kazmeier Award, given annually to the best womenâs college player, and played for both Clarkson and the PHFâs Connecticut Whale after departing BC.
Lonergan was taken in the 14th round of this yearâs PWHL Draft by Ottawa, but did not sign.
âSo excited for the opportunity,â she wrote on social media Monday.
Adzija, 23, played five seasons at Quinnipiac from 2018-23, finishing as team captain. Taken in the 11th round of the draft, she had single points in six of her first seven PWHL games, with 5-3â8 totals 17 games into the season. Despite the cool-off, those eight points would tie for fourth on Boston, whose 35 goals through 17 games are worst in the league.
Darkangelo, 30, had one assist in 17 games with Boston. She was captain of the PHFâs Toronto Six last season, when it won the final Isobel Cup championship in league history.
Grab users can now pay using cryptocurrency
The Idea of You first reviews: Anne Hathaway-Nicholas Galitzine’s rom-com debuts with 100% Rotten Tomatoes score
Charting the AI revolution: Accelerating adoption of AI in finance – The CFO
Russia replaces navy chief sunk by Ukraine’s Black Sea campaign
Mark Milley and former CENTCOM commander to face grilling in Congress over Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal
New ‘exercise pill’ could replace physical benefits of working out: study
Reuters Institute: Research shows women only make 24% of news top editors / FIP
Inside 'Moonlight' writer Tarell Alvin McCraney's inaugural Geffen Playhouse season