Massachusetts regulators have approved a first-of-its-kind rule requiring sportsbooks to inform customers when their accounts are restricted. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the measure after a public comment period and an earlier reading in December.
The regulation takes effect June 1. Operators must notify bettors within 48 hours of imposing a limit, explain the reason, and identify which markets are affected. The rule also applies to players who have already been restricted.
Chair Jordan Maynard said during the initial reading, “We are the first jurisdiction to take up this issue. This was not an easy topic to take on, but it’s a good thing for the citizens and patrons of the Commonwealth.”
Player Concerns and Industry Response
Account limitations have been debated in Massachusetts for more than 18 months. Bettors told regulators that sportsbooks reduced their wagering ability without explanation, often after sizable wins.
Carrie Torrisi, chief of the commission’s Sports Wagering Division, said, “What we’ve been hearing from members of the public is that if you show a tendency to win, you will be limited. And if you show a tendency to lose, you will have that limit raised.”
A commission review found about 13,400 accounts were limited, representing roughly 0.64% of the state’s 2.1 million online wagering accounts. The data did not specify reasons.
Operators defended their approach during a September 2024 public meeting. Sarah Brennan, senior director of compliance at BetMGM, told commissioners, “To effectively manage risk, we limit a small minority of patrons that we consider to be advantaged players who attempt to take advantage or find ways around our risk management framework.” She added that about 1% of the company’s Massachusetts customers are affected.
“This group of limited patrons, many of whom self-identify as professional bettors, is loud in insisting that limiting patrons is a pervasive practice by operators. However, this is not accurate; it is actually the opposite.”
Push for Additional Safeguards
The advocacy group American Bettors’ Voice supported the rule and called for minimum posted limits tied to maximum stakes. Board member Adam Robinson said, “Regulated sportsbooks systematically restrict successful bettors while increasing limits for losing players,” and urged further reforms.
Commissioners also discussed prediction markets. Maynard said, “The expectation of the Commission is not to put window dressing or wallpaper on this issue. It’s to actually tackle the issue.” Massachusetts has blocked Kalshi from offering contracts in the state following a recent court ruling.
Maynard added, “I rarely talk to the operators and say that I am. Those who advocate for those pseudo-regulated, so-called prediction market products use the fact that they are not limited as a positive for their product. I think that as far as the operators can possibly push their business model to be transparent on this piece is a net positive, ultimately. You may see it as a net negative now, but for consumers, I think it’s a net positive.”
Source:
“Massachusetts becomes first state to enact rules on player limits”, sbcamericas.com, Februarz 27, 2026
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