The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has voted unanimously to add new language to the MA Sports Wagering Catalog explicitly prohibiting bets on individual collegiate sports awards.
The MGC’s sports wagering division recommended the rule change in order to clear up any confusion over whether such wagers are permissible in the Commonwealth.
Commissioners voted 4-0 to add the new language to the Massachusetts sports betting catalog at the MGC’s Sept. 26 meeting.
Massachusetts sports betting clarifies ban on individual college athlete awards
The prohibition on college player awards betting is technically already covered by the Massachusetts regulation banning wagers that are dependent on the performance of an individual college athlete.
A ban on so-called college player prop bets has been a part of Massachusetts’ gambling regulations since the launch of sports betting in the commonwealth in early 2023. The MA ban was in place ahead of the NCAA’s recommendation this year that all states consider banning wagers that are based on a college player’s performance. The recommendation arose over concerns about student-athlete harassment, as well as the risk of in-game manipulation.
The state’s wagering event catalog mentions the prohibition on student-athlete player props. However, a separate section states that bets on individual sports performance awards are allowed for all approved leagues, without a carveout for the prohibition on college player awards.
No Massachusetts operators have offered college award bets
The MGC’s sports wagering operations manager, Andrew Steffen, told commissioners that MA sportsbook operators were previously made aware that awards were included in the prohibition of individual college player bets. He said none of the operators have offered futures bets on individual collegiate player awards, so the clarifying language is more of a precautionary measure.
The new carveout language forbidding wagering on individual collegiate awards was approved unanimously at the Sept. 26 MGC meeting. The language serves as an addendum to a section in the event catalog that permits wagering on awards based on a player’s regular season statistics that are recognized by an approved league or governing body. Wagering on individual professional athlete awards, such as league and championship game MVPs, remains permitted in the Commonwealth.
Individual collegiate awards banned at Massachusetts sportsbooks
Here is an overview of some of the collegiate sports awards on which bettors in Massachusetts cannot place wagers:
- Heisman Trophy (football)
- Maxwell Award (football)
- John R. Wooden Award (men’s and women’s basketball)
- Naismith Trophy (men’s and women’s basketball)
- Lisa Leslie Award (women’s basketball)
- Player/Pitcher of the Year (baseball)
- Tewaaraton Award (men’s and women’s lacrosse)
- Hermann Trophy (men’s and women’s soccer)
- Mike Richter Award (men’s hockey)
- Hobey Baker Memorial Award (men’s hockey)
- USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year (softball)
- Dan Hodge Trophy (wrestling)
- Ben Hogan Award (men’s golf)
- Dinah Shore Trophy Award (women’s golf)
- All-Americans (football, basketball, baseball and soccer)
Massachusetts also forbids sports wagering operators from offering bets on in-state college teams outside of tournament and championship games.
