Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday for accepting a wager on an in-state college team in December.
On Dec. 5, a bettor placed a $50 futures bet on Boston College’s bowl game against SMU. The following day, Fanatics noticed the error, canceled the bet, and refunded the customer for their attempted college football wager. The bowl matchup didn’t take place until Dec. 28, so the error was rectified well in advance of the game taking place.
Regardless of the quick fix, accepting a wager on an in-state college in non-tournament action is prohibited. As a result, Fanatics Sportsbook accepted the financial penalty.
“The goal of the commission … was to make sure that we set the goalposts, and once the goalposts were set that it was followed,” Jordan Maynard, the MGC’s interim chair, said. “I see that here … I think it was great work.”
Massachusetts’ unique college posed a challenge for sports betting operators since their inception. Avoiding human error and double checking which college markets are allowed has been a focus for numerous operators, and several operators have received financial penalties as a result of mistakes.
Encore Boston Harbor received a $40,000 fine earlier this year for allowing in-person bets on in-state schools.
