Barstool Sportsbook, via Penn Entertainment, received approval Wednesday for an online sports betting license in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission needed a two-day suitability review before granting Barstool Sportsbook an online MA sports betting license, despite that license essentially being guaranteed by state law.
Barstool becomes the fourth tethered online sportsbook approved in the Commonwealth, joining BetMGM, Caesars and WynnBet.
Legal online sports betting will have its MA launch in early March prior to the NCAA Tournament.
Barstool approval pending conditions
Barstool will need to meet five conditions as part of its approval:
- No one under 21 is allowed to attend any of Barstool’s Live College Football Shows.
- Penn cooperates fully with the MA Gaming Commission’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) conducting an investigation without limitation on Barstool Sports in connection with branding.
- Provide any updates to IEB regarding the Illinois lawsuit discussed in executive session
- Provide diversity goals on their supplier spend
- Provide diversity goals for workforce
Penn is taking over Barstool fully in February.
After finding out the license was approved, a Barstool producer who links to the company’s online casino page in his Twitter bio posted then quickly deleted a tweet suggesting he would have his mom places his parlay bets:
MA sports betting executive session
The MGC went into executive session Wednesday on a variety of issues, including a 2021 Indiana incident, an Illinois lawsuit, market and revenue share projections, skin arrangement and Barstool branding.
Penn’s answers to the state regulator’s questions behind closed doors were apparently satisfactory.
The MGC has been watchful of Barstool Sportsbook after a New York Times article critical of founder Dave Portnoy.
Barstool Sportsbook lauds RG
The Ohio Casino Control Commission fined Penn-Barstool $250,000 for advertising violations, as the state regulator looks to crack down on sportsbooks who advertise to persons under 21.
Based on the aforementioned condition, MA regulators are employing a similar tact.
As part of its responsible betting presentation Tuesday, Penn Entertainment has revised its betting policy to remove the term “risk-free.”
“We know that we’re not perfect, and have made mistakes in the past,” Penn Entertainment VP of legal and business affairs Michael West said. “We own those mistakes. We’ve learned from them. And we strive to continue to be an industry leader in responsible gaming.”
