The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) held a public meeting on Tuesday to discuss several alleged noncompliance matters involving four sports betting operators.
The MGC’s open meeting allowed commissioners of the regulator to discuss noncompliance matters tied to retail and online wagering and next steps in addressing the issues. Commissioners can take three actions during public meetings when addressing noncompliance matters.
The regulator can set an issue for future discussion amongst commissioners, refer the matter to its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), or levy a penalty. The MGC did not levy penalties against the operators but set the issues to either be referred to the IEB or discussed at a later date by the commission.
The alleged violations were tied to these four Category 1 or Category 3 operators:
- BetMGM
- Caesars Sportsbook
- MGM Springfield
- PENN Sports Interactive, the owner and operator of theScore Bet
BetMGM cited for two alleged violations
BetMGM’s marketing tactics continue to draw concerns in Massachusetts as the operator allegedly sent promotional emails to two people enrolled in the state’s voluntary self-exclusion program. The promotional emails offered the patrons profit boosts for betting.
The MGC’s IEB initiated a probe into the alleged violation and found that BetMGM allegedly sent the marketing material on April 22. BetMGM is attributing the miscue to human error with its automated email system.
The MGM Resorts and Entain joint venture also allegedly sent two people on the self-exclusion list physical marketing materials by mail in November 2025. The marketing material promoted BetMGM’s online casino operations. The online casino marketing was sent to individuals in a state where iGaming has yet to be legalized and regulated.
Not the first marketing issue
BetMGM has had previous issues delivering promotional materials in Massachusetts.
Earlier this year, an MGC probe found that BetMGM sent thousands of promotional emails to underage people in the state between April 2024 and July 2025. BetMGM sent approximately 3,800 emails to people under the age of 21, violating gaming rules.
It admitted that it was unable to confirm the date of birth of over 37,000 email recipients.
“This is sizeable, both in scope and size,” said MGC Commissioner Eileen O’Brien during a February 2026 public meeting. “The percentage of the emails where they cannot affirmatively say were over 21 is really disturbing.”
MGM Springfield accepts Heisman trophy wager
MGM Springfield allegedly violated Massachusetts gaming rules by allowing wagering on the NCAA football Heisman trophy winner from April 26 until May 11. The MGC does not allow its licensed sports betting operators to accept college-related prop wagers.
The casino accepted one Heisman trophy wager that totaled $28. The violation was identified during a routine trading compliance audit by MGM Springfield. The casino also voided the bet and return the money to the customer who placed it.
MGC Commissioner Nakisha Skinner noted a similar violation by another unnamed operator. The violation did not take place during last year’s or this year’s awards cycle.
The IEB will continue to investigate MGM Springfield’s noncompliance issue.
Alleged improper contact by VIP host
PENN is facing enforcement action from the MGC over alleged improper contact between a VIP host and one person who is enrolled in a voluntary “cool off” period.
The VIP host allegedly texted the patron on several occasions between September 2025 and October 2025 to reengage previous correspondence. They also reached out in 2026.
The MGC plans to review PENN’s noncompliance matter in the near future.
Russian boxing match sparks alleged Caesars violation
According to information provided to the MGC, Caesars allowed betting on an unapproved event in Massachusetts. The event was a boxing match between Michael Eifert and Dmitry Bivol on May 30 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Caesars allegedly allowed illicit wagering on the event between April 30 and May 4. It accepted three bets on the fight.
The bets are a violation, as the MGC does not currently allow wagers on events in Russia.
The wagers totaled $3,769 and were voided and returned to the customer who placed them. The MGC elected to refer the matter to the IEB for further action in part because of the low bet volume.
