Sports betting popular for NCAA championship online.

On Monday night, a majority of fans at the Encore Casino WynnBet Sportsbook in Everett placed their bets on UConn to win the NCAA Championship. This March Madness marked the first time sports betting was legal in Massachusetts, and fans flocked to the Sportsbook, both in-person and online, to watch the finals.

For many fans, the ability to legally bet on sports in Massachusetts was a welcome change. Harrison Chan, for example, used to drive to his home state of Connecticut to bet with friends during previous basketball seasons. “Honestly,” he said, “15 to 20 minutes away, I can’t beat it.”

Others, like Chris Thurston, who hosts a betting podcast, expressed relief that the state has finally legalized sports betting: “I don’t know what took so long, the state has missed out on so much money.” Tyler Winder, originally from Colorado where legal sports betting has been established for a few years, says live betting is “the name of the game.” He added, “It’s how sports should be watched.”