No Date Yet for Massachusetts Gaming Commission Roundtable on Sports Betting Limitations

Dec 3, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY SportsThe Massachusetts Gaming Commission cancelled today’s agenda setting meetingThe gaming regulators were scheduled today to pick a date for a much-anticipated roundtable on the practice of limiting sports betting usersRegulators want operators to reveal how users are limited, data on limiting users, and more transparency on the practice

We’ll have to wait at least a few more days until a date is announced for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s much-anticipated public roundtable on the practice of sports betting operators placing betting limits on users.

A date for the discussion was to be scheduled today during the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s (MGC) agenda setting meeting, but that meeting was cancelled.

The MGC will likely set a date for the roundtable during its next public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 15, or its next agenda setting meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

More Information on Limitations Needed

The meeting is expected to include a conversation between the commission, industry experts, and licensed Massachusetts sportsbook operators as to the “how, when, and why” of limiting sportsbook patrons in the commonwealth.

It will hopefully be better received by the MGC, as the first scheduled roundtable saw seven of the eight licensed state sportsbook operators decline to participate. Bally’s was the only operator to participate, but it had not yet launched in the commonwealth.

Commissioner Nakisha Skinner had harsh words for licensed operators during the last public meeting. This will not be a meeting for them to “save face” by showing up and not discussing anything with regulators in public. Operators will be expected to provide data on the how and why of the practice, how users are limited, and what goes into the thought process of limiting a customer in Massachusetts.

“I am not interested in having another roundtable where the operators come before us and say they can’t talk,” she said.

The public roundtable could lead to new regulations that may limit the practice in the state. Interim Chair Jordan Maynard said as much, but also said it will be up to the operators to determine if they want to be part of the conversation or not.

“We’re having a larger policy conversation, and it’s hard for me to believe that operators don’t have an opinion on this policy decision that we may or may not make. Ultimately, there could be some regulations that come out of this. What I would pose to operators in public is, do you want to be part of the conversation that helps develop those, or do you want to reactive to whatever comes out? I would hope they would want to be part of it,” he said.

Will New Sports Betting Advocacy Group Be Involved?

It will be interesting to see if the MGC involves American Bettors’ Voice, a newly formed sports betting user advocacy group, in the upcoming conversation. Formed by sports betting legends Gadoon “Spanky” Kyrollos and Billy Walters, the Nevada-based non-profit group supports sports bettors by giving them a voice to stick up for their rights as consumers in the U.S. sports betting market.

Commissioner Eileen O’Brien referenced the group during a late July MGC meeting, asking that they be contacted in preparation for the meeting.

“The NCLGS (National Council of Legislators from Gaming States) conference had a presentation late Friday morning about a new group that is advocating for bettors. I haven’t looked at it, but their main topic is basically this topic, transparency and limitations,” she said.

O’Brien asked that the group be contacted for their insights on the practice and to potentially brief the MGC prior to the discussion.

Richard Schuetz, CEO of the group and a lifelong gaming and regulatory veteran, told Sports Betting Dime representatives for the MGC have informally contacted American Bettors’ Voice, but have not yet asked for them to be a part of the roundtable or offer their opinions on the limitation practice.

“We have heard the statements that they wanted our insight, but nothing definite exists. Of course, we would be thrilled to pass on our insight based on the real experience of real bettors,” Schuetz said.

Schuetz previously told SBD the group respects the efforts of the MGC in the sports betting industry. Their representatives have shown a willingness to learn more about topics they may not understand, he said, unlike some other big players in the industry.

“Unlike the operators, we respect their desire to learn,” he said.