The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced Tuesday morning that Commission Chair Cathy Judd-Stein will retire from her role when her term ends next month. Judd-Stein has chaired the commission for five years, and most recently, she oversaw the development of regulations and launch of the Massachusetts online sports betting market. Her final day with the commission will be March 21.
The MGC also oversees casino gaming and horse racing.
During Judd-Stein’s tenure as commission chair, she created an ongoing dialogue with gambling stakeholders, often holding roundtable discussions around relevant issues. Her goal was to tap the knowledge of those in the industry and apply that knowledge to the rule-making process.
Judd-Stein’s commission was tasked with bringing retail and digital betting apps for a March 10, 2023 launch.
“Cathy Judd-Stein led the Massachusetts Gaming Commission through a critical time for the industry, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the launch of sports wagering,” Gov. Maura Healey said via press release. “We are grateful for her many years of service to the people of Massachusetts and wish her the best in her retirement.”
Healey’s office will begin the search for a new commission chair.
Consumer protections at the fore 2c2a68
Along the way, Judd-Stein prioritized consumer protections, in particular preventing advertising to minors and other vulnerable groups, as well as banning relationships with between Massachusetts colleges and sports betting companies. Those decisions led to some of the most stringent sports betting advertising guidelines among legal U.S. sports betting jurisdictions.
“It is with immense pride and unwavering optimism that I conclude my time as Chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission,” Judd-Stein said via press release. “Since 2019, I’ve worked alongside creative, committed, and generous colleagues, including my fellow commissioners and the dedicated team responsible for making the MGC run well. I am proud of the work we accomplished together – the hard decisions, the important research, the best-in-class policies, and standing up a new industry in Massachusetts as sports wagering was legalized. I would like to thank Governor Baker for appointing me to this role as well as the Governor Healey has provided over the past year.”
