State Audit Found Criticisms Against Massachusetts Gaming Commission
Massachusetts State Auditor Criticizes Gaming Commission's Oversight of Sports Betting
The Massachusetts State Auditor, Diana DiZoglio, has released an audit that criticizes the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's oversight practices, particularly in relation to sports betting. The review, conducted by Joey Flechas of The Boston Globe, was focused on the commission's oversight of commercial casinos but expanded to include the oversight of sports betting in Massachusetts.
The audit found that 17 sports-wagering advertisements, which were launched locally after Massachusetts legalized sports wagering in 2022, lacked the number for the state's problem gaming helpline. The audit does not specify which sports betting companies' advertisements were found to be non-compliant.
One of the recommendations in the audit is for gambling regulators to review sports betting companies' advertisements before they are made public. However, the audit does not provide information on any potential penalties for non-compliance with this recommendation or the requirement to include the problem gaming helpline number in advertisements.
The audit does not mention any specific issues with the advertisements of sports betting companies other than the omission of the problem gaming helpline number. It's important to note that the audit does not provide information on any potential penalties for non-compliance with the recommendation to review advertisements.
The audit's focus on sports betting comes as a period of increased scrutiny on the sports betting landscape. Many other states have also legalized sports wagering, including popular betting apps like FanDuel, BetMGM, and DraftKings, which have launched locally in Massachusetts.
Diana DiZoglio began her term as Massachusetts State Auditor after serving in the Massachusetts Legislature until 2022. She became State Auditor in early 2023. The audit was released on Thursday.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission's oversight practices were also criticized in the audit. The commission was criticized for not having a clear plan for addressing non-compliance issues, such as the omission of the problem gaming helpline number in sports betting advertisements.
The audit's recommendations now include the review of sports betting companies' advertisements before they are made public. It remains to be seen how the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will respond to these recommendations and address the issues raised in the audit.
