The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has taken decisive action against three commercial casinos in the state for engaging in unauthorized sports betting activities. Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino have been slapped with penalties amounting to $50,000 for accepting wagers on college games, which is strictly prohibited under state law.

The swift intervention by the MGC came after it was discovered that each of the casinos allowed bets on regular season games involving Massachusetts college sports teams, a clear violation of the state’s regulations. These bets managed to slip through the cracks due to various backend errors and system glitches, leading to the imposition of fines to maintain the integrity of the sports betting market.

One such incident occurred at Encore Boston Harbor, where a single sports bet was accepted on a women’s regular season basketball game between Boston College and Notre Dame. This wager was inadvertently allowed as the team was listed under two different names, with only one name appearing on the prohibited list. To prevent future occurrences, Encore’s vendor, WynnBet, has undertaken to conduct two daily audits, ensuring that no regular season games involving Massachusetts college teams are available for betting.

Similarly, MGM Springfield faced penalties for accepting wagers on two Harvard men’s basketball games. The casino‘s sports betting vendor, BetMGM, had erroneously designated the location of Harvard as Connecticut instead of Massachusetts, leading to the unauthorized bets. To rectify the situation, BetMGM swiftly corrected the error and committed to thoroughly reviewing all past sports wagers to ensure compliance with the rules.

Plainridge Park Casino also faced compliance issues, allowing 33 bets across 27 tickets on a men’s regular season basketball game between Merrimack College and Long Island University. A backend data entry error was responsible for this discrepancy, and the casino’s sports wagering vendor, Kambi, promptly rectified the mistake by correcting Merrimack College’s location listing from Florida to Massachusetts.

While the fines may seem relatively small considering the robust legal sports betting market in Massachusetts, the MGC is sending a clear message to all operators that adherence to betting rules is non-negotiable. As the state’s sports betting industry continues to thrive, the importance of stringent oversight and enforcement cannot be understated.

The MGC’s actions demonstrate its commitment to upholding the integrity of sports betting in Massachusetts, regardless of the scale of the violations. As the market continues to evolve, it is vital for all stakeholders to work together to maintain the highest standards of legality and transparency.

As operators adapt to the MGC’s strict compliance measures, the fines serve as a reminder that the regulator will leave no stone unturned to ensure the continued integrity and success of the state’s legal sports betting landscape. Cooperation from all parties involved will be crucial in shaping the future of sports betting in Massachusetts.
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Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced Tuesday it plans to represent the interests of the state in a years-long legal battle over unlawful gaming compacts that resulted in losses of state resources. Back in 2020, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office reached revised gaming compacts with four Native tribes, the Otoe-Missouria, the Kialegee Tribal Town, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as the Comanche Nation. This prompted four other tribal nations, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Citizen Potawatomi, to file federal lawsuits, challenging the Governor’s authority for the signed gambling compacts.

The prime issue with the compacts orchestrated by Gov. Stitt was that he didn’t have the legislative authority to enact them. The legal battle continued with the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling twice that the aforementioned gambling compacts are invalid, despite the Governor submitting them to the federal government for approval.

State’s Relationship with Tribal Organizations Suffered Damage

Now, the state’s Attorney General, confirmed he joins the lawsuit to defend the interests of the state and informed the Governor of his decision via a personal phone call and an official letter. In his letter, Drummond said that Gov. Stitt can freely deal with the tribes but cannot violate the established laws currently in effect in Oklahoma. “I am taking this action in order to uphold the law and defend our constitution,” wrote the Attorney General.

Additionally, Drummond criticized the Governor for damaging the relations between the state and tribal organizations while at the same time not following the law. He claimed that the Governor didn’t enact gambling compacts that would bring benefits to Oklahomans but chose to engage in “costly legal battles.” Drummond pointed out: “Millions of dollars of state resources have been squandered on these futile efforts.”

“Oklahoma’s relationship with our tribal partners has suffered greatly as a result of your divisive rhetoric and refusal to follow the law,“

wrote Attorney General Gentner Drummond

According to the recent statement released by the Attorney General, there are nearly $600,000 in accumulated expenses for private law firms that are currently defending the unlawfully signed gambling compacts. He claimed that other legal battles have resulted in millions of losses under the tenure of Gov. Stitt. The Attorney General pointed out that he represents a “broad coalition of state leaders” that have an ultimate goal to repair the damage that has been done due to the unlawful gambling compacts with the tribal operators.

In light of the situation, earlier this week, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat hinted that lawmakers may consider taking the authority related to the negotiation of tribal gambling compacts from the Governor. It is yet to be confirmed how can such change be enacted.

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