Massachusetts Gaming Commission Unveils Official Seal of Approval

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) unveiled its official seal of approval that licensed operators will brandish. The new addition aligns with the authority’s effort to promote legal and responsible gambling in the state.

The Seal Will Mark Licensed Companies

All MGC-licensed companies will now be required to display this seal on their digital platform. These include the following sportsbooks:

• Bally Bet
• BetMGM
• Caesars Sportsbook
• DraftKings
• Fanatics Betting & Gaming
• FanDuel
• Penn Sports Interactive

The seal will signpost officially licensed websites, allowing consumers to discern between them and unlicensed black market operators. The MGC reminded players that unregulated platforms expose them to a variety of dangers, including data breaches, financial losses and risks of addiction.

Additionally, unlicensed companies may refuse to honor winning bets, leaving consumers with no recourse. To top it all off, illegal operators are oftentimes tied to organized crime.

Conversely, seeing the official MGC seal will now inform players that they are accessing a fully licensed platform that is compliant with the Commonwealth’s laws and regulations. This will provide them with peace of mind, nurturing trust between legal operators and sports betting companies.

Consumers Must Be Wary of Unlicensed Operators

Commissioner Eileen O’Brien noted that the MGC has spent considerable efforts to ensure that licensed gambling operators exemplify the commission’s ethos and are committed to consumer protection and responsible gaming.

Massachusetts residents who choose to gamble on sports deserve to know their data, personal and financial information are protected, and only the legal marketplace offers those protections. By locating this seal, users will be able to easily identify a legal sportsbook from an illegal operator.

Eileen O’Brien

The MGC added that customers must remain vigilant when it comes to online gaming. The commission noted that even if a service presents itself as legitimate, it may not actually boast a license by any state jurisdiction. This means that it will not comply with the States’ customer protection standards either.

While the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has issued cease-and-desist orders to several major illicit operators, weeding out unlicensed gambling completely is an uphill battle. Because of that, the MGC advised players to seek more information on the American Gaming Association’s website.