By now, you’ve probably heard betting on in-state Massachusetts college teams isn’t allowed except for tournaments, such as March Madness. You can’t bet on any sports that are judged, either, such as figure skating, gymnastics and skateboarding. You can’t bet on any sports overseen by Russian or Belarusian authorities, either.
But there are also specific types of prop bets you can’t make in Massachusetts.
MA sports betting prop bets are banned for any events that are “inherently objectionable.” That includes as whether a player will get injured, if a player will get arrested or suspended, or how many games a player will miss. In addition, no wagers may be accepted on any officiating-related outcomes. That includes when the first penalty will be called, or on coaches challenges.
Noncompliance incidents in Massachusetts
All states that allow sports wagering publish a catalog of acceptable sports and wager types that it will permit. Most of the prohibited betting types and sports in Massachusetts are similar to regulations in other states. Though some states do allow in-state collegiate betting without limitation.
Already since the launch of retail sportsbooks in late January, the state has been presented with three instances of possible violations or noncompliance. In all cases, sports betting operators allegedly mistakenly accepted wagers on college basketball games involving Massachusetts schools. The MGC has yet to announce what disciplinary action it will take in response.
Pro draft and multi-state pool bets allowed
Bettors in Massachusetts may be glad to know that they will be allowed to bet on professional sports drafts, such as the NBA and NFL drafts. That means bets are allowed on which player will be drafted by a certain team or in a draft position.
State regulations also permit wagering on awards shows, including the Oscars and Emmys, and professional eating competitions.
According to the sports wagering catalog, sportsbooks are allowed to pool wagers from Massachusetts bettors, as long as it adheres to gaming law. In a fixed-price pool, bettors from multiple states are pooled together and/or matched with other bettors. The MGC allows such activity as long as the MA wagers are lawfully placed in the Commonwealth, they adhere to the terms of the sports wagering catalog and the pooled bets from other states are also lawful in those jurisdictions.
If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with gambling, call 1-800-327-5050 or visit www.mahelpline.org/problemgambling to speak with a trained specialist for free, 24/7
