The Massachusetts Gaming Commission does not represent the only group concerned with protecting consumers from online sportsbooks.
While the MGC is finalizing regulations to oversee sports betting, which will include advertising limits, a Massachusetts lawmaker introduced a bill to give sportsbook operators the same consumer protections that other businesses in Massachusetts.
The HTML766 bill is sponsored by Senator John Keenan from the Norfolk area and Plymouth. The bill’s text stipulates that the following promotions will be subject to Chapter 9A state’s General Laws.
- Promotions with bonus
- Parlays of the same game
- Odds increases
- No-risk, risk-free, and no-sweat bets
These laws specifically outlaw deceptive business practices such as bait and switch schemes or a lack thereof. Also, they prohibit any marketing that leads to customers being misled.
Consumers can bring legal action against companies for violating Chapter 93 if they can show intentional violations.
Some of the items in Keenan’s bill are already limited by the MGC’s current regulations. These measures would limit the use of “risk free” advertising for offers that require a customer to make a financial deposit. Ohio has a similar regulation.
