The Bills defensive line stepped up against the Patriots. © Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has set a date for the much-anticipated sports betting limitation roundtable
- Interim Chair Jordan Maynard said the meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11
- The meeting will include licensed sports betting operators, customers, and industry experts discussing the practice of limiting sports betting customers
A much-anticipated public roundtable on the practice of limiting sports betting customers finally has a set date.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will host a roundtable on limiting sports betting customers on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The commission has been discussing the potential for a new meeting for the last month after the majority of licensed sports betting operators skipped out on the first roundtable held earlier this year.
The commission is expecting all sportsbook operators to attend the meeting.
Meeting Will Feature Industry Experts, Licensed Operators
The meeting will likely be split into two portions. Sports bettors and industry professionals will speak during one half of the meeting and the licensed sports betting operators will be able to speak in the other.
The licensed Massachusetts sports betting operators have made it clear they plan to attend the meeting after receiving sharp criticism from the gaming commission after not attending the first roundtable in May. Seven of the eight licensed operators did not attend the meeting, with only Bally’s sending a representative to the meeting. At the time, Bally Bet had yet to launch in the commonwealth.
Interim Chair Jordan Maynard previously said he expects every licensed operator to attend this meeting.
Commissioner Nakisha Skinner has been the most vocal member of the MGC in her disappointment over the first meeting. During a discussion in August, Skinner said this will not be a meeting for operators to “save face” by showing up but refusing to speak on the topic in public.
Operators will be expected to provide statistics on the practice of limiting sports bettors and publicly discuss what goes into the decision making process to limit Massachusetts customers on their platforms.
Important Industry Meeting
The public meeting will be the second discussion hosted by the MGC on the controversial topic. Seven of the eight sports betting operators did not attend the MGC’s first meeting on the practice, which rankled a number of the state regulators.
It’s going to be closely followed by those in the sports betting industry, as it will likely provide the first of its kind look into how operators decide to limit customers. The practice has been shrouded in mystery, as customers have asked for answers on why they receive limits and what goes into a decision to limit a customer.
Operators balked at sharing information into the process, declaring they would not provide trade secrets and would only do so in an executive session away from the public.
Massachusetts regulators have stood firm in their decision to hold the meeting in public for transparency into the operator process.
Rob covers all regulatory developments in online gambling. He specializes in US sports betting news along with casino regulation news as one of the most trusted sources in the country.
Massachusetts regulators have announced that they will be holding a meeting to discuss the limitations on sports betting in the state. The meeting is scheduled to take place on [date], and will be open to the public.
The decision to hold this meeting comes after the Supreme Court ruled in May that states have the authority to legalize sports betting. Since then, many states have moved quickly to pass legislation allowing for this form of gambling, but Massachusetts has been more cautious.
The state’s Gaming Commission has been tasked with overseeing the implementation of sports betting in Massachusetts, and they have been working diligently to come up with a plan that will satisfy all stakeholders. This meeting will be an opportunity for them to present their findings and recommendations to the public.
One of the key issues that will be discussed at the meeting is the potential limitations on sports betting in Massachusetts. Some advocates are calling for strict regulations to prevent problem gambling, while others argue that too many restrictions will drive bettors to illegal offshore sites.
The Gaming Commission will also be seeking input from the public on other aspects of sports betting, such as which sports should be allowed for wagering, how bets should be placed, and what types of bets should be permitted.
Overall, this meeting is an important step in the process of legalizing sports betting in Massachusetts. It will give residents a chance to voice their opinions and concerns, and help shape the future of this rapidly growing industry in the state.
