- The Sports Wagering Division of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission provided an update on its player limitation investigation
- A spokesperson noted the licensed sports betting operators provided data on player limitations
- The division will utilize a professional data analyst to draw any meaningful conclusions from the information
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s investigation into customer limitations will continue, as each of the state’s licensed sportsbooks have provided the commission’s sports wagering division with the requested player limitation data.
The only problem? There’s so much data the sports wagering division cannot make any meaningful conclusions without the help of a professional. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) unanimously agreed to bring in a data analyst to evaluate the provided information to see if there is any correlation between a customer’s win rate and a sportsbook limiting their action on a platform.
“We’ve gathered data and will continue to gather data. We look forward to learning and putting that learning into action. We’re proud to be the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to openly discuss limiting with the operators and we’re excited to add that interplay with the VIP programs. We’ll continue to learn on this matter,” Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Jordan Maynard said at Thursday’s meeting.
VIP Programs Also Being Evaluated
Carrie Torrisi, sports wagering division chief of the MGC, revealed that each of the state’s seven licensed sportsbooks responded to the MGC’s December 2024 request for data to determine exactly how many of their sports betting customers are limited on on their platforms and why they are limited.
The data request asked for information regarding how many patrons are currently being limited in the commonwealth and for specific player data to determine the percentage of players being limited, how many players are being limited that exhibit winning behavior, and how many players are being treated as VIPs and exhibit losing behavior.
The sportsbook’s fully agreed to the request.
“It’s become quite clear that with the volume of data submitted, as well as the intricacies of the data, we would greatly benefit from the assistance of a data analyst. At this point, we’ll propose two next steps. The first would be working with the data analyst to review the data already submitted by the operators,” Torrisi said.
The second step will be a new request to operators seeking answers to a number of specific questions related to both patron limiting and VIP programs. These responses will help the MGC identify potential areas for regulation, but also help to identify additional datapoints to seek on patron limiting and VIP programs, she said.
The investigation into player limiting and VIP programs stemmed from two roundtables the MGC hosted with its licensed sportsbooks.
Originally, the MGC only planned to host one roundtable on the subject in May 2024. However, all of the sports betting operators (excluding Bally Bet) no-showed the first meeting, which necessitated the second meeting held in September.
Over the course of the full roundtable held this past September, operators claimed that limiting users is more about curtailing a very small percentage of customers from taking advantage of the sportsbooks while being able to safely offer a high number of markets to its more casual bettors.
The MGC’s investigation into this practice will continue.
Sign Up for SBD’s Newsletter Now
Did you want the latest sports betting news, analysis, picks, betting trends, and relevant data straight to your inbox? If so, you’ll want to subscribe to SBD’s newsletter now!
Deceased Sports Bettors Has Bets Returned
In a unique situation, the MGC unanimously agreed to void nine futures bets placed on DraftKings online sportsbook by a deceased customer.
Let’s back up for a moment.
On March 7, DraftKings notified the MGC that legal counsel for a deceased patron requested that nine futures bets placed on the Boston Celtics to win either the Eastern Conference Championship or NBA championship be voided. Legal counsel notified DraftKings that the spouse of the deceased patron made the request, asking the $106,1000 in total bets be voided and returned to her estate.
The total liability for DraftKings if each of the bets won was $384,730.
“We are happy to bring this to the commission if it assists the estate and the widow in this case,” DraftKings Senior Counsel Pete Harrington said at the meeting.
The Sports Wagering Division recommended the bets be voided, as they satisfied all requirements under state statute. The MGC unanimously agreed to void all the bets and return the total $106,100 stake to the estate.
Massachusetts regulators have recently received data from sports betting operators regarding user limitations. This information is crucial for ensuring responsible gambling practices and protecting consumers from potential harm.
The data provided by sports betting operators includes details on how they monitor and enforce user limitations, such as deposit limits, time limits, and self-exclusion options. These measures are put in place to prevent problem gambling and addiction, as well as to comply with state regulations.
User limitations are an important aspect of the online gambling industry, as they help to promote responsible gaming and protect vulnerable individuals. By setting limits on how much money can be deposited or wagered, operators can help prevent users from spending more than they can afford to lose.
In addition to deposit and time limits, sports betting operators also offer self-exclusion options for users who feel they need to take a break from gambling. This allows individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from accessing the platform for a specified period of time, ranging from days to months or even permanently.
By providing regulators with data on user limitations, sports betting operators are demonstrating their commitment to promoting responsible gambling practices. This transparency allows regulators to monitor and enforce compliance with state regulations, ensuring that consumers are protected from potential harm.
Overall, the data received by Massachusetts regulators on user limitations from sports betting operators is a positive step towards promoting responsible gambling and protecting consumers. By working together, regulators and operators can create a safe and enjoyable gaming environment for all users.
