During a public meeting on Tuesday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) addressed several compliance issues involving four sports betting operators.
Commissioners discussed both retail and online wagering issues, outlining three potential actions they can take concerning noncompliance: they can either bring an issue up for future discussion, refer it to the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), or impose a penalty. In this meeting, the MGC opted to refer some issues to the IEB or schedule them for future discussions without establishing penalties for the operators involved.
The operators with alleged violations included BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, MGM Springfield, and PENN Sports Interactive, which runs theScore Bet.
BetMGM was highlighted for two specific alleged infractions. The first issue arose when it reportedly sent promotional emails to two participants in the voluntary self-exclusion program in Massachusetts, offering profit boosts for betting. An investigation by the MGC’s IEB indicated that these emails were sent on April 22, and BetMGM attributed the error to a glitch in its automated marketing system.
Additionally, BetMGM also mailed promotional materials in November 2025 to individuals on the self-exclusion list, marketing its online casino services, which raised concerns as online gambling is not legal in the state.
BetMGM has previously faced scrutiny for similar marketing errors. Earlier this year, the MGC revealed that between April 2024 and July 2025, the company had sent approximately 3,800 promotional emails to individuals under 21, violating gaming regulations. BetMGM admitted it could not verify the ages of over 37,000 email recipients, leading MGC Commissioner Eileen O’Brien to express concern over the high percentage of recipients whose ages were unconfirmed.
MGM Springfield also came under fire for another noncompliance issue. The casino allegedly allowed betting on the NCAA Heisman Trophy between April 26 and May 11, which contravenes MGC regulations that prohibit wagers on college-related props. MGM Springfield accepted a single wager of $28 for the Heisman Trophy but later voided the bet and refunded the customer after the issue was flagged during a routine compliance audit.
MGC Commissioner Nakisha Skinner noted that another unnamed operator had also committed a similar violation, although it did not occur during the recent award cycles. Investigations regarding MGM Springfield’s issue will continue.
PENN Sports Interactive faces potential enforcement action for alleged improper contact involving a VIP host who reached out to a patron participating in a voluntary “cool off” period. The VIP host reportedly sent multiple texts between September and October 2025 and continued contact into 2026. The MGC plans to review this matter soon.
Caesars Sportsbook is also under scrutiny following allegations that it permitted betting on an unauthorized boxing match in Russia on May 30 between Michael Eifert and Dmitry Bivol. Wagers were reportedly accepted between April 30 and May 4, totaling $3,769, and were voided and returned to the bettors, as the MGC prohibits wagers on events occurring in Russia. This issue, stemming from the low betting volume, has been referred to the IEB for further investigation.
