TITLE: Massachusetts Gaming Commission Establishes Rules for Acceptance of Sports Wagers
BODY:
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has established comprehensive regulations governing the acceptance of sports wagers by operators under 205 CMR 247.07. The regulations set out requirements for displaying available wagers, acceptable payment methods, and operational procedures for sports wagering facilities and digital platforms.
Sports wagering operators must display all available wagers to the public, including odds and a brief description of the sporting event and wagering proposition. Operators may only accept wagers on sporting events where availability has been posted in accordance with these rules. Operators are prohibited from setting lines, odds, or offering wagering propositions designed to ensure a patron will win a wager or series of wagers, unless such offers are made in connection with an approved promotional offer.
Wagers may be placed from sports wagering counters, kiosks, designated cashier cage counters within approved facilities, or mobile applications and digital platforms approved by the Commission. Acceptable payment methods include cash, foreign currency converted to U.S. currency, electronic funds transfers, debit instruments, promotional gaming credits, winning sports wagering tickets or vouchers, and sports wagering accounts. Credit cards are prohibited, either directly or indirectly. Mobile and digital platform transactions are restricted to patrons physically located within Massachusetts using registered sports wagering accounts.
The regulations establish anti-structuring requirements, prohibiting operators from knowingly allowing patrons to circumvent reporting requirements through multiple or structured wagers. Operators must record personally identifiable information before accepting or issuing payouts on anonymous wagers exceeding $10,000. Operators must provide patrons with an opportunity to review and finalize wagers before acceptance, and may not modify wagers after patron approval, except as permitted by approved house rules.