BetMGM came under fire from Massachusetts regulators after a report found the online sports betting and casino operator allegedly sent marketing materials to underage people in the state.
At a Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) public meeting on Thursday, the commission also put BetMGM under the spotlight over what it alleged was improper delivery of promotional emails to certain populations for a period of more than a year.
BetMGM sends thousands of improper emails, says MGC
According to the MGC, between April 2024 and July 2025, BetMGM allegedly sent promotional emails regarding MLB, its mobile Ballpark app and the Boston Red Sox to 3,803 people under the age of 21, violating the state’s gaming rules. In the Bay State, sports betting is only legal for people aged 21 or older.
The operator also allegedly sent rounds of emails to 19 people on the state’s self-exclusion list and 25 players who were in a “cool off” period.
In addition, BetMGM admitted that it was unable to confirm the date of birth of the recipients of more than 37,000 of the 96,167 emails it sent to people in Massachusetts regarding its Red Sox and Ballpark promo.
BetMGM attributed the errors to an “individual employee who failed to abide by BetMGM’s internal protocols regarding promotions.”
Commissioners label violation ‘egregious’
“This is sizeable, both in scope and size,” said MGC Commissioner Eileen O’Brien during the public meeting. “The percentage of the emails where they cannot affirmatively say were over 21 is really disturbing.”
Fellow MGC commissioner Nakisha Skinner shared the same sentiment and, along with O’Brien, recommended that the matter should require an adjudicatory hearing. “The facts as we know them right now are particularly egregious,” said Skinner.
She noted that BetMGM’s alleged noncompliance issue involved three “vulnerable” categories and that the MGC is hearing a violation of this nature for the very first time.
The MGC has yet to levy a penalty against BetMGM but plans to hold an adjudicatory hearing on the matter after holding a vote, which will include reporting from the commission’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau and all involved parties.
“Our goal is zero folks under 21 accessing a sportsbook in Massachusetts,” said MGC Chair Jordan Maynard. “We take this very seriously, and if something like this pops up, we’re going to take action.”
Legislators concerned by gambling’s impact on the vulnerable
It’s not only Massachusetts regulators who are concerned by gambling’s impact on young people and vulnerable demographics. Around the U.S., lawmakers have looked to address the issue.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received a letter from Sens. Katie Britt and Dick Durbin requesting a study on the impact of sports gambling on young people. Britt and Durbin suggested there is a lack of research on the topic that is widely available to the public. The study, which has bipartisan support, would provide research for both licensed and unregulated platforms.
Meanwhile, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced new measures she intends to implement to protect New York minors from gambling-related harm. Hochul wants the New York State Gaming Commission to use biometrics to ensure underage people are not downloading sportsbook apps and creating accounts, and to impose penalties on people who share accounts with minors.
The commission says it is considering the protective measures Hochul has proposed.
Next door in New Jersey, legislators have introduced a slate of bills aimed at clamping down on how gaming operators can encourage users to gamble. One bill would ban online casinos and sportsbooks from using mobile push notifications or text messages to solicit wagers or deposits, while another would prevent operators from offering incentives to users who have used responsible gambling tools, such as deposit limits or self-exclusion measures.
