wsn-newsletter Subscribe to WSN.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Saves DraftKings From Massive Payout After Odds Error

Written by: Michael Savio
Published December 7, 2023
2 min read
MGC Saves DraftKings From Massive Payout

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has saved DraftKings from a $575,000 payout. The regulator announced that the Boston-based sportsbook would be allowed to void bets placed on the Lakers-Nuggets game on October 24. The operator has claimed that an error led to the same game parlay odds being incorrect, with first-quarter player totals accidentally being applied to the full game. 

A total of 137 Massachusetts bettors saw the low totals and capitalized, leading to over $4,000 in bets and $575,000 in winnings. One wager alone accounted for over $150,000 in winnings, thanks to the skewed odds. 

DraftKings insisted that the payout should be voided since the odds were incorrect. They told the MGC that Sportcast, who provided their odds, gave them the wrong number, which caused the massive loss. The MGC first considered a motion to force DraftKings to pay out the winnings, but it was narrowly defeated 3-2. The following motion, which passed 3-2, would allow the operator to void the bets, but only after they awarded a 3x cash bonus to all 137 bettors.

DraftKings Statement to MGC Causes Backlash

While DraftKings acknowledged the mistake should have been caught on their end, they insisted the people who placed the bets were the bigger problem.

“Letting the wagers stand in this case doesn’t protect the betting public,” DraftKings stated in a letter to the MGC ahead of their second vote. “Instead, it rewards a small, undesirable segment of it, as the behavior of the overwhelming majority of users that wagered on these markets indicates that their sole purpose was to exploit the obvious error. It is not in the best interests of the Commonwealth of the Sports Wagering Industry.”

This comment caused backlash from several MGC commissioners who took exception to the “undesirable segment” label applied to the 137 bettors. Several also called out DraftKings for claiming that voiding the bets would be better for the betting public without providing any evidence to support the claim. 

While the MGC ultimately agreed to void the bets, their response shows that DraftKings may not get the same benefit of the doubt if this error repeats itself.

Michael Savio WSN Contributors

Michael Savio

Sports Betting Analyst

Expertise:
Gambling News
MLB
NCAAB
Online Sports Betting
Michael is an avid sports fan and a veteran bettor from Milwaukee. He learned the trade from his grandfather in Las Vegas as a kid and has turned that into a successful career. He cheers for all Wisconsin pro teams along with his Alma Mater Arizona State. He specializes in baseball betting, but has experience in football, basketball, and hockey as well. When he isn’t pouring over stats, he’s spending time with his two young children.
Email: [email protected]
Nationality: American
Education: Bachelor of Political Science
Favourite Sportsbook: Caesars Sportsbook
Favourite Casino: BetMGM Casino
Experience: 3 years
We've been featured on:
espn logo
reuters logo
cbs-news logo
forbes logo
entrepreneur logo
entrepreneur logo
We only list licensed sportsbooks
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
WorldSportsNetwork
Co2neutral

We support responsible gambling. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you need help, call 1-800-Gambler.

WSN.com is managed by Gentoo Media. Unless declared otherwise, all of the visible content on this site, such as texts and images, including the brand name and logo, belongs to Innovation Labs Limited (a Gentoo Media company) - Company Registration Number C44130, VAT ID: MT18874732, @GIG Beach Triq id-Dragunara, St. Julians, STJ3148, Malta.

Advertising Disclosure: WSN.com contains links to partner websites. When a visitor to our website clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase at a partner site, World Sports Network is paid a commission.

Copyright © 2024