Massachusetts Sports Betting: Two Casinos Violate College Gambling Regulations

Less than two weeks since in-person sports betting launched in Massachusetts, two casinos are already under fire for violating betting compliance law.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission last week announced that (Encore Boston Harbor (partnered with WynnBET) and Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Sportsbook) accepted bets that violated the state's ban on in-state college sports teams.

According to a report from investigators, Plainridge Park Casino accepted wagers on the Merrimack College men's basketball team for around seven hours, and the Encore Boston Harbor allowed bets on Boston College women's basketball games for about five hours.

The compliance violation was first announced last Tuesday after it was included on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting agenda. The casinos self-reported the violations.

The Massachusetts sports betting catalog was approved in late January, so both casinos were aware of the law prohibiting wagering on in-state college teams.

Massachusetts gaming commissioners met last Thursday to review the results of the first week of legal betting in the state, and during the meeting, a lawyer gave the commissioners more detail on what occurred at the casinos.

The commission will continue to investigate the issue and will meet again on Tuesday to discuss the next steps. It is unclear whether the commission will fine Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park Casino for failing to prevent the breaches in Massachusetts sports betting law.

In-person sports betting went live in Massachusetts on Tuesday, Jan. 31, and the commission is planning to launch online sports betting in the state at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 10, just days before the start of the NCAA March Madness tournaments.