Gaming Commission finalizes rule to protect minors in sports wagering

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 5-0 on March 26 to adopt final language for 205 CMR 250, a regulation aimed at protecting minors and underage youth from sports wagering. Justin, covering for Jenna Henttoff, told commissioners the update aligns the sports wagering rule with existing brick-and-mortar protections and closes a drafting gap so that both winnings and losses resulting from minor play are deposited into the sports wagering fund.

Commissioners were told the draft had been out for public comment and that no public comments were received; staff described the changes as largely typographical and clarifying. "This regulation deals with protection of minors and underage youth from sports wagering," Justin said in the presentation to the commission.

Commissioner Hill moved to approve the amended small business impact statement and to authorize staff to file the documentation with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to finalize promulgation. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The commission's action authorizes staff to take the remaining administrative steps necessary to complete the promulgation process.

Why it matters: the language change makes explicit that both winnings and losses attributable to minor play are to be deposited into the sports wagering fund, aligning sports wagering rules with 205 CMR 150 that governs brick-and-mortar casinos. The commission recorded no public opposition in the administrative record at this stage.

Next steps: staff will file required documents with the Secretary of the Commonwealth to complete final promulgation and will report back to the commission on any follow-up administrative steps or corrections.