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Commission grants temporary waivers to three retail sportsbooks over tech limits
Summary
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 4-0 to grant temporary, operator-specific waivers to Encore Boston Harbor, Plainridge Park Casino and MGM Springfield from parts of 205 CMR 254, citing retail systems’ lack of account-based functionality and anonymous in-person wagers. Waivers will be revisited if technology changes.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on July 28 approved temporary waivers for three retail category 1 sportsbooks that staff said cannot currently implement the account-based functionality envisioned by 205 CMR 254.
Andrew, sports-wagering staff, told commissioners the three operators identified technological and operational limitations that make it infeasible for retail sportsbooks to implement the regulation’s temporary-prohibition provisions. "Importantly, these waivers are not intended to permanently exempt the operators from the regulation," Andrew said, adding staff will revisit waivers if future technological developments allow retail sportsbooks to comply.
Commissioners moved and voted 4-0 to grant waivers to Encore Boston Harbor, Plainridge Park Casino and MGM Springfield. Staff described the waivers as operator-specific and tied to current system limitations: retail sportsbooks often do not maintain patron wagering accounts, many wagers are placed anonymously, and existing retail systems lack the account-based controls needed to implement temporary prohibitions.
The commission and staff noted the waivers recognize present constraints rather than changing the rule text; if operators later develop the required account-based features, the Commission said it would revisit the waivers and regulatory compliance.
