Massachusetts Operators to Meet on Betting Limits
Massachusetts Operators Agree to Limits Talks After No-Show
As Massachusetts operators agree to limits talks, here’s what else bettors should know.
Massachusetts’ licensed sportsbook operators have agreed to meet about enforcing betting limits for certain users. This comes just a month after six of the state’s seven sportsbooks no-showed a roundtable on the topic.
The original meeting stemmed from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s concerns about the fairness of betting limitations. Bally’s was the only licensed operator to attend, excluding DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics Sportsbook, ESPN BET, BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook.
While an official date has yet to be set, the meeting figures to provide clarity into the practices of certain sportsbooks for betting online.
“I want everyone to be able to get out their thoughts and I want it to be done in an educational way,” Jordan Maynard, interim chair of the MGC, said via Legal Sports Report. “Not a bombastic way, not a way that would upset or humiliate. We will meet on this topic again. This is a long-term conversation that we’re having here.”
Massachusetts operators agree to limits talks: No-Show Bothers Commission
Sports betting operators have raised privacy concerns, suggesting that discussing confidential risk management policies in an open forum could compromise them.. Their reluctance to speak didn’t sit well with several commissioners the first time around.
Commissioner Nakisha Skinner called the no-show a “slight” to regulators.
“I’m not opposed to having the remaining operators come to us, but what’s the substance of the meeting going to look like?” Skinner said via Sports Betting Dime. “I appreciate the outreach our division has made to operators, and the operators to us, but what has changed? What changed? Why is the second time around here better than the first? I’m not convinced that with this addition of a second roundtable that we’ll get the information we asked for or that operators will be forthcoming with their answers of the questions we ask.”
While commissioners have suggested amending state regulations to address the issue, operators from some of the best sports betting apps worry about it impacting business. DraftKings and ESPN BET both said it could negatively affect the bottom line.
Nevertheless, they’ll soon have another opportunity to address these concerns after Massachusetts operators agreed to limits talks.
“Every operator has said that they would be happy to educate us on limitations,” Maynard said via Covers.com. “I appreciate the outreach from the operators. I appreciate their willingness to come and speak to us.”
Maynard specifically mentioned hearing from FanDuel and Fanatics Sportsbooks the first time around. Again, neither went so far as to attend the initial get-together, leaving Bally Bet — which doesn’t begin operating in Massachusetts until next week — on a proverbial island.
As they sort through the parameters of a second meeting, the MGC is considering who else — if anyone — to invite.. They would like to have a few Massachusetts sports bettors attend to increase representation among the constituents. Discussions are ongoing regarding that matter.
Stay tuned for more updates as Massachusetts operators agree to limits talks.
And more Bovada news today..
Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Nakisha Skinner said this AM that she would like to address the situation at a public meeting in the near future.
Could invite reps from state AGO, look into C&D and holding vendors accountable. Cited CT news below. https://t.co/IOnPLCTtCk
— Fair Play Initiative (@fairplaygov) June 12, 2024
Long Time Coming
Online sports betting began in Massachusetts on March 10, shortly after in-person betting was approved. Six sportsbooks entered the state: DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, WynnBet, Barstool, and Caesars.
Casinos partnered with up to two operators at a time.
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