The Massachusetts Gaming Commission Votes to Find Penn Sports Interactive Preliminarily Suitability for a Category 3 Sports Wagering Operator License

BOSTON, Massachusetts (January 4, 2023) — Following multiple public meetings of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) where Penn Sports Interactive (PSI) presented and Commissioners reviewed that entity’s application for a sports wagering operator license, Commissioners voted unanimously to find PSI preliminarily suitable for a temporary Category 3 sports wagering operator license. In doing so, Commissioners placed conditions on that vote.

Commissioners required that the licensee agrees that no persons under the age of 21 will be permitted entrance into any live Barstool College Football Show events, fully cooperate with an IEB investigation of Barstool Sports, Inc. in connection with the licensee’s branding, provide material updates to the IEB relative to proceedings discussed during executive session, and provide the MGC with diversity goals for workforce and supplier spend.

Following MGC action in December, retail wagering is scheduled to launch in Massachusetts on January 31. Online/mobile sports wagering is targeted to launch in March 2023.

Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 23N directs the MGC to award Category 1 sports wagering licenses to those entities that hold a gaming license under MGL Chapter 23K should that entity seek to offer sports wagering, meet requirements set forth by the MGC and pay associated fees.

A Category 1 sports wagering license also permits the holder to offer sports wagering through no more than two individually branded mobile applications or other digital platforms approved by the MGC. However, those platforms must be qualified for and issued a Category 3 sports wagering license according to MGL Chapter 23N. The PSI Category 3 license would be tethered to Plainridge Park Casino’s Category 1 sports wagering license.

PSI is now eligible to request a temporary license to conduct sports wagering while a full suitability review is undertaken by the MGC. Following a temporary license being granted, PSI must obtain an operations certificate and meet additional conditions before they can accept wagers on approved sporting events.

SOURCE: Massachusetts Gaming Commission (23-001).