The mobile betting apps limiting bettors, although an official date for the meeting has yet to be set.
The MGC anticipates setting a date for the future discussion at its next agenda setting meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 7.
A second discussion about the topic comes after sports betting operators (outside of Bally Bet) skipped the first one in May, which angered commissioners. The commissioners are hopeful operators will be both present and engaged at the second iteration of the meeting.
“I said last time, I’m not interested in having another roundtable just to have the operators come before us and say they can’t talk,” MGC Commissioner Nakisha Skinner said.
Operators have signaled they plan to attend the next betting limits discussion.
Regulations Coming? 1e3d48
If operators come to the future meeting with open lines of communication, the commissioners want to know a few key tidbits of information:
- How many bettors are limited annually?
- Why are bettors limited?
- What details do bettors receive about why they’re limited?
Some bettors have argued they become limited without warning or explanation simply for winning bets. It remains unclear whether the discussion with operators will yield productive conversations about why limits are imposed.
While crafting regulations protecting bettors from being limited would cover new ground, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is considering the possibility. Bettors invited to the MGC’s discussions have argued for increased transparency around the practice.
“Ultimately, there could be some regulations that come out of this,” MGC Interim Chair Jordan Maynard said. “What I would pose to the operators today in public is, ‘Do you want to be a part of the conversations that help develop those or do you want to react to whatever comes out?’”
