Hours before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission convened Friday for a meeting to discuss amended sports betting regulations, MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein listened to a local Boston news segment on a burgeoning young gymnast.
The segment focused on how the gymnast is using social media to promote her brand, information that Judd-Stein made use of for the commission’s discussion relating to sports betting endorsements by young athletes. The MGC met Friday prepared to discuss a proposed regulation that would have prohibited professional athletes under the age of 21 from doing commercial endorsements for sportsbooks. At the meeting, the commissioners amended language in order to create a carve-out allowing endorsements by certain pro athletes.
Under the new language, adopted after lively debate, professional athletes between the ages of 18 and 20 will be exempt from the restriction. Commissioners Nakisha Skinner and Eileen O’Brien had expressed concern with the possibility of an athlete under 18 endorsing a sportsbook on a commercial appearing within Massachusetts. Another commissioner, Jordan Maynard, noted LeBron James’ massive branding power when he entered the NBA in 2003 as a teenager. In the end, the five commissioners struck a compromise by unanimously approving the carve-out for 18-to-20-year-olds.
The MGC could opt to take up the issue again after a meeting planned Monday with a group dubbed The Players’ Association, featuring representatives from the NFLPA, NBAPA, MLBPA, NHLPA, and MLSPA. The commission would like to receive feedback from the players unions before the regulation is filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State next week.
The amended language does not consider prominent Olympic athletes under the age of 18. For instance, Simone Biles at age 16 won the all-around title at the 2013 USA Gymnastics National Championships. At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, swimmer Katie Ledecky, then 15, won a gold medal while setting a U.S. record in the 800-meter freestyle. Under Massachusetts rules, bettors could wager on a 15-year old swimmer in the Olympics, even though the swimmer is not allowed to endorse a sportsbook.
Vote on sports wagering catalog tabled
The MGC also tabled a vote on the approval of an expansive sports wagering catalog until next Tuesday’s meeting. A memo posted by the commission ahead of Friday’s meeting indicated certain wagers that it may end up denying, based on staff recommendations.
State law prohibits wagers on all high school and youth sports. Decisions on other events such as chess, cornhole, esports, jai alai, professional sports league drafts, and various entertainment award shows may be postponed until later this year, according to the memo, to give the MGC extra time to examine various integrity issues.
Bettors will likely be prohibited from placing wagers on the outcome of the coin toss at the Super Bowl, according to staff recommendations. In addition, Massachusetts bettors also should not expect to wager on the type of clothing a coach will wear on the sidelines. In the past, some offshore sportsbooks have offered bets on the color of the hooded sweatshirt Patriots coach Bill Belichick will wear for a certain game.
Friday’s meeting was held less than two weeks before the official launch of retail sports betting in the Bay State on Jan. 31, 12 days ahead of the Super Bowl.
Earlier this week, the MGC issued temporary sports wagering operator licenses to six standalone digital sportsbooks: Bally Bet, Betr, Betway, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet.
The majority of the six standalone digital sportsbooks plan to launch in Massachusetts in March ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
– Bally Bet
– Betr
– Betway
– DraftKings
– FanDuel
– PointsBet(via @MattRybaltowski)https://t.co/2PC77TJ2lg
— Sports Handle (@sports_handle) January 19, 2023
Previously, the commission gave initial approval to temporary licenses for five other digital sportsbooks — Barstool Sportsbook (Plainridge Park), BetMGM (MGM Springfield), Caesars Sportsbook (Encore Boston Harbor), Fanatics (Plainridge Park), and WynnBET (Encore Boston Harbor). Those sportsbooks are tethered to existing wagering facilities in Massachusetts. The MGC is targeting March for the launch of online sports wagering.
