Massachusetts Regulators Receive User Limitation Data from Sports Betting Companies
Massachusetts Gaming Commission to Study Sportsbook Customer Limitations and VIP Programs
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has launched an investigation into the practice of limiting customers on sports betting platforms while simultaneously evaluating VIP programs. Each of the state's seven licensed sportsbooks has provided the requested data on player limitations.
MGC leaders have identified the need for a professional data analyst to draw meaningful conclusions from the information, as the volume of data presented is vast and the intricacies involved require expert analysis. The MGC unanimously agreed to engage a data analyst to review the provided information, hoping to identify any correlation between a customer's win rate and a sportsbook limiting their action.
Chair Jordan Maynard expressed enthusiasm about the investigation, stating, "We'll continue to learn on this matter." Meanwhile, Carrie Torrisi, sports wagering division chief of the MGC, revealed that each sportsbook responded to the MGC's data request. The request sought to determine the number of limited customers and the reasons for these limitations.
The assessment will not only focus on identifying potential areas for regulation but will also help pinpoint additional datapoints related to patron limiting and VIP programs. Following the data review, the MGC will issue a new request to operators with questions related to both patron limiting and VIP programs.
The investigation stems from two roundtables that the MGC hosted with its licensed sportsbooks in May and September 2024. Operators discussed the practice of limiting users, suggesting that the purpose is primarily to curtail a small percentage of customers while ensuring that a high number of markets remain accessible for casual bettors.
In an unrelated development, the MGC unanimously agreed to void nine futures bets placed on DraftKings online sportsbook by a deceased customer, returning $106,100 to the estate. The decision came after legal counsel for the estate requested the voided bets, which had a total liability of $384,730 if they had won.
Although regulatory oversight and enforcement remain a high priority for the MGC, there is no current public documentation focusing specifically on investigations or findings regarding player limitations or VIP programs in Massachusetts sports betting. However, the MGC has recently issued fines to several sportsbook operators for noncompliance incidents and continues to review operator licensing aspects.
As the MGC's investigation continues, stakeholders eagerly await the findings and potential policy changes that could impact the sports betting industry in Massachusetts.
- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is examining the relationship between a customer's win rate and sportsbook limitations, aiming to gain insights from the collected data on player limitations.
- As part of the sports-betting industry evaluation, the MGC will not only look for potential regulatory areas but also identify additional datapoints related to patron limiting and VIP programs.
- The MGC's data analyst will study the provided information from the state's seven licensed sportsbooks, with the goal of determining any correlation between a customer's win rate and the sportsbook's decision to limit their action.
