BetMGM, FanDuel, and Fanatics each received fines for accepting wagers on prohibited events, while PENN Sports Interactive was penalized for a marketing slip-up.
The MGC also flagged new compliance issues involving DraftKings and Fanatics, and briefly reviewed the state of sports prediction markets.
Breakdown of the $50K in Fines
The commission approved recommendations from its Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) during a public meeting. Fanatics MA was fined $10,000 after accepting 127 bets totaling $968.13 on the Belarus national soccer team.
Those bets took place between September 13, 2023 and March 22, 2024, breaching a ban on wagers involving Belarus or Russian teams.
FanDuel MA faced the largest single penalty of $20,000. An audit revealed it accepted 3,871 bets on Belarusian soccer between March 20, 2023 and March 26, 2024, then another 178 bets from July 16–18, 2024, totaling stakes of $11,792 and $5,829 respectively. FanDuel said it had misread the commission’s prohibition and has since updated its systems.
BetMGM MA was fined $10,000 for accepting 1,934 bets on LPGA events from March 20, 2023 through May 14, 2024. Although the LPGA is now a legal market, it was not approved at the time of these wagers.
Finally, PENN Sports Interactive received $10,000 for sending promotional materials to individuals on the state’s voluntary exclusion list. One commissioner argued for a higher penalty, but the group settled on the IEB’s suggestion.
New and Future Compliance Issues
The commission heard about two fresh noncompliance events. First, Fanatics Betting and Gaming accepted 36 wagers on Heisman Trophy futures between January 22 and March 21, 2025, with stakes totaling $545.70.
Second, DraftKings MA accepted 89 points-total prop bets on an NCAA men’s basketball game (Oregon vs. Arizona) on March 23, 2025, for $1,655 in total stakes. Both incidents were sent back to the IEB for further review.
Commissioners also discussed the growing field of sports prediction markets but took no action. State gaming officials heard updates on how brokers like Kalshi and Robinhood operate and who governs those markets.
The chair emphasized that licensed sports betting operators remain the safest choice for Massachusetts bettors.
With these fines and discussions, the MGC sent a clear message about its commitment to strict oversight. Operators must stay vigilant about changing rules, or risk facing additional penalties in the future.
