The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) announced that it has sanctioned MGM Springfield with a $45,000 fine for multiple incidents that led to the casino allowing access to the gaming floor and gaming to persons under the age of 21.

Financial Penalty Accepted

The financial penalty was imposed after the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) of the regulatory body assessed the violations, the MGC stated in its press release, outlining that MGM Springfield agreed to pay the civil administrative penalty as a result of the violations.

Commenting on the development, IEB’s senior enforcement counsel, Kathleen Kramer, expressed appreciation that the casino self-reported many of the instances and then collaborated for the implementation of prevention measures.

“We appreciate that MGM Springfield self-reported many of these instances and their ongoing cooperation to put enhanced practices into place to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Kramer said, stressing that “the IEB will continue to monitor MGM Springfield’s compliance with the gaming laws and regulations and the remedial steps they have undertaken” going forward.

MGM Springfield was penalized for multiple incidents which occurred between June and December last year. The incidents led to underage persons being able to access the casino’s gaming floor and even gamble.

Many of the incidents MGM Springfield self-reported to the state’s regulator and then showed full cooperation with its enforcement bureau. Going forward, the casino put in place a number of remedial steps to prevent similar occurrences.

The measures implemented by the casino include delivering enhanced training for its staff, installing additional railings to separate the gaming floor, as well as plans to install an additional security podium for the gaming area.

The gaming regime in Massachusetts considers the protection of underage individuals within the casino environment among its highest priorities and, following the multiple incidents, the IEB decided to impose the penalty.

Other MGM Springfield Violations

In April, the MGC said it would consider action against MGM Springfield after the casino was found to have accepted two illegal bets placed on collegiate sports in February. The bets were placed on basketball games involving Harvard University but smaller in-state collegiate events are illegal to bet in the Bay State.

At that time, MGM Springfield claimed that the wagers were accepted by mistake and that the casino was unaware of them, and provided the MGC with the exact dates the wagers had been accepted. Both wagers were accepted as a result of the university being marked incorrectly as an out-of-state institution.

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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the gambling regulator in the Bay State, will evaluate recent rule violations and decide whether to impose penalties. The authority will discuss the matter at a meeting scheduled for April 14.

Unfortunately, Massachusetts’ fresh sports betting market quickly attracted illegal bets. In February this year, the regulator identified two illegal wagers on collegiate sports. In total, $1,230 was bet illegally within the first month of sports betting in the state. The two bets stood at $1,150 and $80 and yielded total winnings of $1,106.

According to earlier reports, MGM Springfield accepted these wagers by mistake and was reportedly unaware of them taking place. The operator even provided the commission with details of the exact dates of the infringement.

The wagers in question were placed on basketball games featuring Harvard University. Since Massachusetts punters cannot legally bet on smaller in-state collegiate events, both bets violated the law. This happened because the university was incorrectly marked as an out-of-state institution, investigators found out.

MGM Springfield Will Be More Careful

Since the incident, BetMGM, which operates MGM Springfield, vowed to be more mindful. The operator announced that it has “reviewed and verified that all Massachusetts collegiate sports are properly restricted.”

In addition, the gambling company confirmed that it will start a daily audit of all of the available wagers. This, it said, will help it avoid bets on blacklisted events.

The matter will be further discussed on April 14 when the regulator will convene to discuss the illegal bets and decide whether punitive action is needed. The gathering was announced on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s official website.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will convene an adjudicatory hearing relative to the alleged noncompliance of MGM Springfield with G.L. c. 23N, § 3; 205 CMR 247.01(2)(a)(2); and the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Catalogue.

MGC announcement

The MGC Will Address Encore’s Violations as Well

In addition to discussing MGM Springfield, the regulator will also discuss other illegal wagers that were recorded in Encore Boston Harbor. A bug in the system allowed customers to place bets on a Boston College women’s basketball game.

Fewer details have been officially released about this case. However, it is not the first time illegal wagers have been recorded at the property. As a result, the MGC will decide whether to penalize the operator.

As announced by the MGC, it will discuss the MGM matter from 1:30 pm and will continue by addressing the Encore case from 3:00 pm.

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