SPORTS BETTING
US – Three Massachusetts sportsbooks fined by Massachusetts Gaming Commission
By Phil - 26 July 2023
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has issued a fine of $10,000 to Encore Boston Harbor, a $20,000 to Plainridge Park Casino and a $20,000 to MGM Springfield as a result of the property’s sportsbooks offering betting on unauthorized events involving a Massachusetts collegiate team not involved in a collegiate tournament, which is prohibited under Massachusetts General Law.
MGM offered wagers on a 3 February 2023 Harvard v. Yale men’s basketball game and a 4 February 2023 Harvard v. Brown men’s basketball game. Betting was offered for approximately 21 hours and 20 hours on each event respectively, and twenty-eight tickets were sold that included wagers on the two events. All wagers were placed at kiosks, and two winning tickets were redeemed at the sportsbook counter and two other winning tickets were redeemed at a kiosk.
Upon hearing of potential noncompliance events at other Category 1 sports wagering operators, MGM asked their vendor, BetMGM, to review all sports bets placed at the Springfield casino since the launch of sports wagering in the Commonwealth. Following a review that was conducted on 9 February and 10 February 2023, MGM informed the MGC’s sports wagering division of the noncompliance incidents.
Betting was allowed on the unauthorized events because BetMGM had previously incorrectly designated Harvard as being in Connecticut. This error has been corrected and BetMGM confirms that the location of all Massachusetts collegiate teams is correctly designated.
Following the incidents, MGM instituted a daily audit of potential offerings before the sportsbook opens for the day. BetMGM will also conduct periodic quality control reviews of its internal guidance documentation. This includes verifying newly added information and conducting a quarterly audit to confirm continued accuracy. MGM has also continued to emphasize to their sportsbook team the importance of vigilance in reviewing potential wagers for noncompliance.
The MGC appreciates that MGM self-reported the noncompliance to the sports wagering division and their work to ensure that similar noncompliance events will not happen in the future.
PPC accepted 33 bets across 27 tickets on a 2 February 2023 Merrimack College vs. Long Island University men’s regular season basketball game.
On 3 February 2023, PPC notified the MGC’s Sports Wagering Division that wagering was mistakenly offered on an unauthorized event and that betting was open on this event for approximately seven hours. The unauthorized event was recognized by a PPC employee when a patron sought to cash a winning ticket including this event.
In a number of instances, patrons cashed winning tickets ahead of PPC identifying the issue and implementing a fix. Patrons who sought to cash a winning ticket following PPC identifying the issue and implementing a fix had their wagers refunded. Patrons who produced a losing ticket to PPC following the issue being identified also had their wagers refunded.
This event was available to be wagered on due to a backend data entry error where the location of Merrimack College was listed as being in Florida.
Kambi, PPC’s sports betting vendor, has addressed the issue and corrected Merrimack College’s location to Massachusetts. Kambi has also confirmed that no other games involving a Massachusetts team were offered. No suspicious wagering activity was identified upon a review of the wagers placed.
Additionally, Kambi has conducted an audit to ensure Massachusetts college sports teams regular season games have not been and are not available to be wagered on. PPC will continue to coordinate with the MGC’s Sports Wagering Division to ensure they remain in compliance with rules and regulations.
The MGC appreciates that PPC self-disclosed this noncompliance and recognized and rewarded the team member who brought the noncompliance incident to its attention. It has also been noted that PPC and their vendor worked to rectify the problem and put measures into place to avoid future noncompliance.
EBH accepted one wager on a 2 February 2023 Boston College v. Notre Dame women’s regular season basketball game, an event which wagering is not allowed under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 23N as well as MGC regulations.
On 2 February 2023, EBH notified the MGC’s Sports Wagering Division that wagering was open on this event for approximately five hours with one money line bet included in a five-team parlay. The ineligible bet was voided prior to the settlement of the ticket.
The bet was placed at a kiosk inside EBH, and because the patron did not utilize a player card when making the wager, EBH was unable to inform the patron of the ineligible wager until they returned to settle their ticket.
Wagering was allowed on Boston College women’s basketball due to a system error where the team was known by two names to EBH’s wagering platform and only one of those names was included on a blacklist of teams upon which wagering is not allowed.
EBH reports that their vendor, WynnBET, is now conducting twice daily audits to ensure Massachusetts college sports teams regular season games are not available to be wagered on. EBH will continue to coordinate with the MGC’s sports wagering division to ensure the list of Massachusetts collegiate teams is accurate.
The MGC appreciates that EBH self-reported the noncompliance to the sports wagering division and that they identified the incident quickly and prior to the game in question being played.
