Massachusetts regulators will put MA sports betting limits on center stage by early October.
During a meeting Thursday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission decided they will hold another forum on MA sports betting limits by the first week of October. The commissioners decided it will be a standalone special meeting to stay focused on the issue.
Interim Chair Jordan Maynard said he expects every operator to take part.
“I expect every operator will engage in this conversation with us. Not hope – expect,” Maynard said.
New MA sports betting limit discussion
The MGC began exploring the issue of wager limits in March. A first roundtable was held in May, but no active MA sports betting operators participated.
On Thursday, commissioners said they want a standalone meeting on a date by the first week of October. The MGC will split the meeting into two conversations.
Operators will have the floor in the first half, while bettors and responsible gambling organizations can offer their perspective in the second half. Commissioners want operators to provide limit statistics and to discuss how limiting decisions are made.
Expecting sports betting operators to attend
Commissioners felt “frustrated” and “angered” operators did not show up for the May 21 wager limit discussion. Several bettors and industry consultants did take part.
In June, operators agreed to attend a roundtable on the issue. They did, however, stipulate that it needs to be operators-only. Earlier this month, the MGC discussed the potential drafting of regulations on sports betting limits.
“Ultimately, there could be some regulations that come out of this,” Maynard said earlier this month. “What I would pose to the operators in public is: Do they want to be a part of the conversations that develop those or do you want to be reactive to whatever comes out? And I would hope that they want to be part of it.”
Keeping limits discussion civil
Commissioner Eileen O’Brien believed the discourse from the bettors involved upset the sportsbook operators.
Maynard has said he hopes to keep the next discussion between the sports betting operators and bettors calm.
“I want everyone to be able to get out their thoughts and I want it to be done in an educational way. Not a bombastic way, not a way that would upset or humiliate,” Maynard said earlier this year about the future meeting. “We will meet on this topic again. This is a long-term conversation that we’re having here.”
Other MGC sports betting moves
On Thursday, the MGC also approved the removal of Switzerland-based International Boxing Association from its sports betting catalog because of International Olympics Committee investigations into the organization. The IOC concerns included the way the IBA governs, and its financial management and integrity.
Also mentioned was the IBA’s president, Russian Umar Kremlev. The MGC does not allow sportsbooks to offer events with Russian and Belarusian athletes.
The MGC also approved several new bets types for football and basketball.
