Massachusetts kicks off sports betting despite eleventh-hour advertising warnings
MGC commissioners approve six operators as Attorney General writes nine-page letter laying down the law to operators and the regulator alike
Massachusetts has cleared the way for six sports betting operators to begin offering online betting to Commonwealth residents from today, following a final vote by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC).
MGC commissioners unanimously approved Barstool, BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and WynnBet during votes at a meeting late on Thursday evening.
Four other operators – Bally’s, Fanatics, Betway, and Betr – will launch later this year in the Commonwealth, after each walking back from launching on March 10.
Retail sports betting has been live in the state since the end of January.
At the Thursday meeting, MGC commissioners considered testimony from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO), given in the form of a nine-page letter.
Chief among the AGO’s comments were points concerning advertising, calling for the implementation of across-the-board standards in areas including complementing consumer protection laws and barring underage individuals from gambling.
Other standards include the careful scrutiny of operator sportsbook app design to prevent addictive elements creeping in, while also limiting the targeting of advertisements at vulnerable groups.
Attacking what it referred to as “ubiquitous”, the AGO suggested limiting and prohibiting so-called experts in sports betting by operators, as well as barring potentially deceptive promotional practices.
The letter further called for the increased use of operator data in cases of problem gambling, with a view to curtailing it, and that the MGC should be vigilant in ensuring this objective is met.
“Simply put, where (a) the operators themselves have the best data to identify and curb problem gambling; and (b) have the tools to interrupt that gambling before customers harm themselves or their families, the operators must be obligated to do just that,” the AGO wrote.
“Digital access to sports betting represents a significant shift in the Massachusetts gambling industry, with faster and easier access than ever before.”
The letter continued: “In this context, safety and responsibility demands prudence and caution. The AGO stands ready to support and partner with the Commission to root out and address any unlawful practices that negatively affect the people of the Commonwealth.
“We encourage the Commission to implement the suggestions offered here as an important first step in that effort,” the AGO’s letter concluded.