Massachusetts Bet Limiting Law Falls Short on Transparency

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s fight for transparency over bet-limiting continues to come up short.

After years of pushing sportsbooks for details on how and when they are limiting bettors, the regulator created a new rule to force the issue. The rule, which went into effect on June 1, forces sportsbooks to notify bettors when and why they are being limited. Operators must also provide details on which markets were involved and which rules were violated.

The change is retroactive, meaning operators must contact bettors who were previously limited.

While sportsbooks sent out notices on Monday as required, they stopped short of providing true transparency. The notices told bettors why they were being limited but made vague accusations without any evidence. 

Several bettors have been sharing the notices they’ve received, which accuse them of suspicious betting behaviors. While bettors deny the violations, they are left without any way to appeal or learn more about why they were limited.

The first round of notices also failed to provide any insight into the general betting-limiting practices used by sportsbooks. That’s something the MGC has been fighting for, but sportsbooks have rejected requests at every turn. 

While the regulator hoped the new rule would promote transparency for the Massachusetts sports betting market, it appears the industry has already found a way to circumvent it.

Bet Limiting is a Big Concern

According to sportsbooks, the ability to limit bettors is a critical tool for their financial success. It prevents sharps and betting scandals from walking away with big wins, ensuring they can continue to offer favorable odds and promotions for all bettors.

However, the MGC began sounding the alarm over the practice a couple of years ago. It began when bettors complained about being limited after posting several wins in a row. These were casual bettors who were riding hot streaks, but saw their maximum bet drop to as low as $1 in some cases. 

These claims led to fears that sportsbooks were limiting winning bettors who weren’t violating any rules. The MGC attempted to assuage these fears by organizing a public forum in conjunction with sportsbooks, but all of the state’s operators failed to attend.

This further fueled fears, leading the regulator to set its new disclosure rule. With the industry once again refusing true transparency, it appears the MGC’s fight is far from over.