All three casinos in the Commonwealth have already been in violation of the state regulation that prohibits MA sports betting on in-state college teams.
An investigation is underway after MGM Springfield (BetMGM) allowed sports betting in Massachusetts on a pair of Harvard University men’s basketball games in early February.
The news came just after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Tuesday decided to hold an adjudicatory hearing to determine penalties for Plainridge Park Casino and Encore Boston Harbor regarding earlier violations.
In-person sports betting opened in the Commonwealth on Jan. 31.
MA sports betting investigation details
The Investigations and Enforcement Bureau went into detail on the PPC and EBH in-stage college betting infractions.
Plainridge Park Casino violation
Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Sportsbook) took 33 bets on a Merrimack College men’s basketball game over a seven-hour period. The wagers totaled $6,848, with total winnings of $4,270.
Third-party supplier Kambi caused the error. Kambi mistakenly assigned Merrimack as a Florida college rather than a Massachusetts institution.
Encore Boston Harbor violation
Meanwhile, Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBet) took a $70, five-leg parlay at a kiosk featuring a Boston College women’s basketball game. The game’s moneyline wager was available for five hours.
Encore voided the Boston College leg of the parlay, after supplier GAN did not have the game on its banned list.
The IEB found fines in other jurisdictions for similar violations ranged from $5,000-$10,000.
Regulatory hearing to come
The commission ultimately decided to conduct a hearing on the matters.
Iit wants to set a tone with legal sports betting having just launched in the state.
MGC previously recommended the launch of online sports betting for March 10 at 10 a.m. There will be 11 online sportsbooks in the state.
MA sports betting college rules
Based on the language in the statute, Massachusetts bettors cannot wager on a team like Boston College to win the NCAA Tournament until it officially qualifies.
The commission is also saying no on Heisman Trophy betting, though it plans to discuss that matter further.
According to geofencing rules, MA bettors can wager on a boat as long as its within three miles of the shoreline. The land of the Mashpee Wampanoag and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribes will be marked as separate, sovereign territory per geofencing rules.
