Tentative go-live date for Massachusetts digital platforms set for March 10th.
It's freakin' Cambridge, not Cambridge-Fucker's Corner, but hey, who am I to judge? Karen Wells, the fearless executive director of Massachusetts Gaming Commission, spilled the beans on Thursdays about plans to kick-off up to 11 digital sports betting platforms on March 10th, a date that just so happens to be two days before the NCAA Tournament's Selection Sunday, smack in the middle of several major conference championships like the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, and Pac-12. It's time to get your betting freak on, Massachusetts!
The MGC previously green-lighted the following platforms for potential online action: Bally Bet, Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, betr, Betway, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, Fanatics, and WynnBet. Some platforms are standalone mobile apps, while others are tethered to brick-and-mortar gaming operators. The MGC aims to finalize digital licenses by Feb. 23rd.
Betway, however, might not be ready to hit the ground running in March, as their acquisition by Super Group could slow the approval process.
So, what happened at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino when in-person wagering started on Jan. 31st? Seems like the sportsbooks in Encore and Plainridge Park offered wagering on some banned events, which the MGC's Investigations Enforcement Bureau is currently reviewing. Oopsie! It appears the violations were due to a data-input error on the sportsbooks' or vendors' parts.
During a recent meeting, the sports betting menu was under the spotlight, with the need for operators to stay in the loop to ensure compliance with Massachusetts' peculiar rules. The menus revealed that some events wanted by operators weren't included in the final list.
The commission also discussed the "cooling-off period," a new resource for bettors, allowing them to pause their betting on a single platform or at a single location for a shorter amount of time, effective immediately. Let's hope responsible gambling is on the rise in Massachusetts.
Finally, the commission dove into new advertising rules around problem gambling messaging. Keep your eyes peeled for waivers being granted to approved operators as they figure out what these messages should say and how big the text should be, with the rules possibly varying for different types of advertising.
Ready, set, Massachusetts, this is gonna be a wild ride!
In the upcoming digital sports betting landscape of Massachusetts, platforms such as Betway might not be Ready to commence action by March 10th due to potential approval delays. Meanwhile, established sportsbooks at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino have faced issues with banned events, resulting from data-input errors on their part.
