The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) Thursday morning approved plans for Massachusetts.
While both companies have already stopped taking deposits and bets, Betr has plans to cease operations Feb. 16 and WynnBET will shut down on Feb. 23, the one-year anniversary of when it was awarded a temporary license.
Once the companies stop operating in Massachusetts, sixsports betting licenses.
Betr and WynnBET both went before the commission last week to request leaving the state, but discussion and votes were tabled when it became clear that the quick exits would require more information and planning. The companies have been working with the commission since. Thursday’s plan review and the votes went quickly, with of the commission thanking both companies for their participation in the state and wishing them good luck going forward.
Both sportsbooks were required to submit to the MGC a plan, including a timeline for how they will unwind their businesses. Both companies will alert customers individually through email, and will also post notices on their apps and social media platforms.
What about WynnBET’s retail sportsbook? 4k3o29
WynnBET has more issues to handle than Betr, which is strictly a digital platform. WynnBET offered its customers loyalty points, and those can still be used at retail Wynn or Encore brick-and-mortar locations in Boston and Las Vegas, according to company executives.
In addition, the retail sportsbook at the Encore Casino in Boston is not only named the WynnBET Sportsbook, but WynnBET is a vendor that provides multiple services to the sportsbook. Encore Senior Vice President and General Counsel Jacqui Krum addressed the commission about the future of the sportsbook, saying it will remain open, that the current staff is already able to handle many of the functions that WynnBET provided, and that the casino sportsbook is working with Investigations Enforcement Bureau (IEB) on a solution for how the trading desk will be handled.
Commissioners questioned if it would be necessary to revisit the retail sportsbook application because of the changes, but new IEB chief Caitlin Monohan said she did not believe that would be necessary. From the discussion, it seemed apparent that Encore Boston Harbor would eventually rename its WynnBET Sportsbook, but that it was not a top priority as executives sort through how to handle key services during the transition.
In order to approve the plans for both Betr and WynnBET to cease operations, the commission was also required to approve waivers to allow the companies to shut down so quickly, as the statute requires 90 days notice.
For WynnBET, the decision to shut down in Massachusetts is part of a bigger plan to shutter a New York, but had exited about 10 other states.
Betr, backed by boxer and YouTube personality Jake Paul, is now operational in only two states, Pennsylvania.
