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MGC Amends Sports Betting Ad Standards Ahead Of Massachusetts Launch

Flores Brian

Updated as of January 26, 2023 at 10:00 AM EST • Read time: 1 minute 56 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Entain and DraftKings logos displayed on phone screens are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on September 25, 2021. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto)

There is ongoing controversy within the gaming industry surrounding sports betting advertisements, particularly when a new market is introduced.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has voted to amend their advertising regulations to allow professional athletes aged 18 to 20 to participate in commercial endorsements with sportsbooks, just in time for the official launch of Massachusetts sports betting on Jan. 31.

The MGC had previously suggested a rule that would ban athletes under 21 from endorsing sports betting platforms. During the meeting on Jan. 20, the Commission discussed the possibility of excluding athletes aged 18 to 20 from this restriction.

Despite some commissioners being worried about under-18 athletes appearing in sports betting commercials in Massachusetts, others pointed out that athletes such as LeBron James already have strong branding recognition before turning professional. In the end, all five commissioners voted in favor of allowing professional athletes aged 18 to 20 to participate in such commercials.

Pro athletes good for business

Professional athletes are undeniably influential figures in the world of sports betting. Without them, there would be no sports to bet on. Many well-known players have also taken on the role of endorsing major sports betting companies in advertising campaigns.

When retail sports betting launches in Massachusetts, Bruins legend Ray Bourque will join Mayor Domenic Sarno at MGM Springfield as the site begins accepting bets on Tuesday. What options will be available for Massachusetts bettors once the betting goes live?

On January 24, the MGC officially authorized a sports betting menu which included all mainstream sports such as professional, college, international, and domestic leagues. However, the betting menu did not include the Summer and Winter Olympics, esports, chess, jai alai, and cornhole.

These losses may not be significant, as major sports leagues like the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, WNBA, and most collegiate sports are all allowed. However, the MGC retains the right to review their exclusions before the state begins online sports betting in March.

There is a possibility that the Olympics will return to the spotlight with the upcoming Summer Games in Paris, France just over a year from now.

When some of the top sportsbooks in the country launch next week, bettors in Massachusetts will have a wide variety of markets to choose from. FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, PointsBet, Barstool, and other leading sportsbooks will offer a range of betting options including single-game bets, totals, moneylines, parlays, teasers, exchange wagering, in-game betting, and props.

In the competitive landscape of sports betting in Massachusetts, bettors can anticipate top-notch promotions that meet or surpass industry standards, making it one of the most exciting sportsbook markets in the country.

Written By:
Flores Brian
Grant is a former junior B ice hockey player, and a current believer that the Washington Capitals’ aging core still has another Cup run left in the tank. Grant’s owned and operated his own marketing agency since shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2014. He pursued the profession because he figured it’d be a great way to get paid to do something he loves to do, write. After years of hammering puck lines and leading his fantasy football league as Commissioner, Grant started writing about sports betting and the casino gaming industry in 2021 and hasn’t looked back.