Regulators Investigate Barstool Sports’ Promotion in Massachusetts
The Barstool Sportsbook is expected to face legal action from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for utilizing unfair or misleading marketing in a sports betting offer. Can’t Lose was utilized in the promotion offer made by Barstool celebrity Dan Katz.
Barstool Violates Massachusetts’s Sports Betting Law
Massachusetts lawmakers were informed by Penn CEO Jay Snowden that the branding was intended as not being serious, but rather amusing, and not meant to mislead people. Moreover, Snowden said that Penn had permanently ceased utilizing the “Can’t Lose” advertising. Dan Katz, according to Snowden, is one of the worst gamblers in the entire world.
State authorities, though, don’t seem to be amused. Massachusetts has among of the nation’s harshest advertising laws, similar to those in Ohio. Michigan and New Jersey, one of the first states to legalize online sports betting, are more lenient when it comes to advertising laws.
This is the second advertising infraction made by Barstool in the past two months. Barstool, one of the most popular gambling operators in Michigan and hopefully, in the future, one of the licensed platforms for real money gambling in New Jersey and other states, has recently been acquired by PENN Entertainment. PENN was fined $250,000 by Ohio officials in February for advertising its sportsbook close to the University of Toledo. Such marketing, including appearances by Barstool characters, is against Ohio gaming legislation.
Possible Ramifications for Barstool Sports
Chief Enforcement Counsel and Deputy Director of the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) for the MGC, Loretta Lillios, was the one who initially reported the infraction.
Lillios claims that the Attorney General’s office in Massachusetts acted swiftly in response to the marketing campaign by Barstool. In her testimony before the IEB, the AG used consumer protection law to argue that sports betting businesses must adhere to all applicable rules and regulations.
Following the event, the MGC had a number of options for punishing Barstool. Any other operator infringing on MA gaming legislation would face the same penalties, including:
- Suspend or revoke a license for sports betting.
- License modification for the operator.
- Levy a fine against the operator.
The IEB may also propose a solution for any breaches of state gaming law in addition to taking additional action.
About Massachusetts Gaming Commission
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is a regulatory body responsible for overseeing the licensing and regulation of the state’s casino industry. Established in 2011, the MGC was created to ensure the integrity and transparency of the state’s gambling industry, which includes three licensed casinos and a slot parlor.
The MGC is tasked with enforcing the state’s gaming laws and regulations, as well as issuing and renewing licenses for casino operators and their employees. In addition to its regulatory functions, the MGC is also responsible for ensuring that the casino industry in Massachusetts is economically viable and socially responsible.
The MGC is also committed to transparency and accountability, regularly publishing reports on the performance of the state’s casinos and conducting public hearings on regulatory matters. Overall, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission plays a critical role in ensuring that the state’s casino industry operates in a safe, responsible, and sustainable manner.
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