By
Lisa Spencer
Senior Editor Updated: 27 November 2024
Lisa Spencer Senior Editor
As a Senior Editor at Betting.US, Lisa Spencer is a valuable member of our expert team. With a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, Lisa is adept in gambling theory and analyzing odds. She contributes by writing online sportsbook reviews and finding competitive markets to help our readers make an informed choice.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission recently introduced an official seal for online sportsbooks. It aims to help gamblers identify legitimate sites as part of the ongoing campaign to promote responsible and safe gambling. All sites with this seal are legal and use the latest technology to protect your data and funds.
Our team of experts has researched the topic to learn more about this new license. You can learn how a site qualifies for it and what security measures it uses. We will also provide some additional information on the state’s campaign against illegal gambling and how it aims to protect players.
Massachusetts is very stringent with its gambling laws, with the MGC first being established in 2011. It also took until 2022 for sports betting to be legalized, with college prop bets being banned since the start. Since then, the MGC has been working on preparing laws and cracking down on illegal sites like Bovada.
The MGC is also very strict on gambling advertisements. Aside from requiring ads to display “21+”, operators are not allowed to partner with universities. If a venue is expected to have more than 75% of attendants below 21 years old, it cannot have gambling advertisements. Additionally, credit cards cannot be used to gamble.
Despite these laws, some citizens still express concerns about online sports betting. They believe the rules are not enforced strictly enough, and the accessibility of online gambling entices underage gamblers. That has led to demands for even stricter regulation of gambling advertisements and more vigorous enforcement of the state’s gambling laws.
In response, the MGC began a campaign in March to teach students about the risks of gambling. Students of all ages will go through a curriculum on responsible gambling developed alongside the NCAA. The state also introduced a seal that will be displayed on the pages of legitimate gambling sites. It indicates the site has been approved and passes all requirements.
Any operator with the MGC’s license is legitimate and has passed the requirements. That includes strong encryption technology, like Know Your Customer, to protect your data and funds. Whenever you make an account, you must provide a valid ID to prove you are 21.
The MGC has spent considerable efforts ensuring that the operators licensed in the Commonwealth share our values and are committed to consumer protections and responsible gaming.
-Eileen O’Brien, MGC Commissioner
All legitimate sites also provide responsible gambling tools like self-exclusion and deposit limits. They partner with GameSense, the state’s responsible gambling program, to provide players with professional help. You can also use the 24/7 hotline GameLine if you need additional guidance. Finally, none of the sportsbooks offer bets on high school, youth, and college teams unless the college teams are in a tournament.
Since sportsbooks opened in 2023, the MGC has been working to regulate the market and ensure fairness. That includes talking to operators about restrictions and establishing initiatives for responsible gambling. While there aren’t any other significant regulations in the pipeline, we will keep you updated on any developments.
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