A month after sports betting operators have signaled to the MGC that they’re now willing to attend a public discussion about the topic.
MGC Interim Chair Jordan Maynard said Thursday the commission has heard from the state’s legal operators – FanDuel – that they’re willing to discuss the topic.
Bally Bet, which is tentatively scheduled to launch in Massachusetts on June 27, was the only operator represented at the first meeting and plans to attend future discussions.
“Every operator has said they’d be happy to educate us on limitations,” Maynard said.
Commissioners Skeptical u61i
While commissioners expressed optimism regarding future discussions about sports betting limits, there’s still lingering frustration among commissioners about operators skipping the initial roundtable.
“What changed?” Commissioner Nakisha Skinner said. “Why is the second time around here better than the first?”
Skinner expressed doubts that operators would share meaningful information about how and why bettors are limited. She wants to ensure any future discussion includes valuable information related to bettor limitations, rather than operators appearing publicly to appease the commission’s request.
“It can’t just be a roundtable for the sake of a roundtable where they’re coming, and they’re saying, ‘We can’t talk because this is sensitive information,’” Skinner said.
Commissioners echoed those thoughts, with Maynard emphasizing he wants an open, productive conversation. He doesn’t want a discussion to turn into an argument, but rather he wants the forum to better educate the commission about why sports bettors in Massachusetts have their s limited.
The date of a future discussion about betting limits is to be determined.
