It looks like, maybe, the Massachusetts sports betting rules were not completely known.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) on Wednesday decided to hold a future adjudicatory hearing for Barstool Sports’ “Big Cat’s Can’t Lose Parlay” promotion, which had been offered in the state.
These Massachusetts sports betting promotions are a regularly promoted wager from one of Barstool’s personalities, Barstool Big Cat.
Barstool Sportsbook’s parent company, PENN Entertainment, voluntarily had reached out to the Commission to discuss the promotion and it since has been discontinued by Barstool in the state due to concerns.
Two Words at Issue
The two words in the promo - “can't lose” - could go against the state regulations set forth for legal operators such as Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts and others.
MGC General Counsel Todd Grossman had given options to the Commission to consider: have an adjudicatory hearing, ask the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) to investigate and then provide a recommendation that the Commission could approve or deny. In that instance, depending on the decision, the MGC can decide to administer a civil administration penalty to PENN Entertainment.
The Commission chose to go the adjudicatory route at a future date and time to be determined.
Just a day earlier, the MGC held two adjudicatory hearings regarding alleged non-compliance to the state's sports wagering catalogs of two retail sportsbook locations: Encore Boston Harbor (WynnBET Massachusetts) in Everett and Plainridge Park Casino (Barstool Sports).
The third retail sportsbook, MGM Springfield (BetMGM Massachusetts), did not receive any violations.
A written decision for each of these hearings will be released in the future.
Count on BetMassachusetts.com to keep you up to date on any rulings. Count also on the site to provide reviews and promos from all the legal Massachusetts betting apps.
