Massachusetts Gaming Commission resumes sports betting licensing process

(AsiaGameHub) –   This move came in response to a petition from Bet365.

US.- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has unanimously voted to reopen the application window for sports betting licenses. The action follows a request from Bet365, which is seeking to obtain a Category 3 Sports Wagering Licence.

Firms wishing to seek a licence must file a Notice of Intent with the Commission by May 15. The form is available on the MGC’s website.

Sports wagering licences fall into three categories. Category 1 covers in-person betting at a casino, category 2 is for retail wagering at a racetrack, and category 3 is for online sports betting. Category 3 licenses may be tied to a category 1 or 2 licensee or operate independently.

When sports betting first went live in the state, 16 companies submitted licence applications. Three later pulled out, one submission was considered incomplete, and two operators stopped their activities after being licensed.

In March, Plainridge Park Casino (PPC), MGM Springfield (MGM), and Encore Boston Harbor (EBH) posted $107.8m in gross gaming revenue (GGR), a 2.6 per cent increase from the previous year. The seven online and three retail sports betting licensees produced $65.4m in taxable sports wagering revenue (TSWR). The total sports betting handle reached $699m, comprising $690.7m wagered online and $8.3m placed at physical venues.

The MGC also recently introduced PlayWell, a new responsible gambling and player wellness program that will succeed its former GameSense effort.