In what is a first-in-the-nation advertising requirement, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 3-2 Thursday to require sportsbooks to display a “21-and-older” notification anywhere a sportsbook’s logo is visible in or from a sports stadium.
The language of the rule necessitates the age requirement be part of all logos, whether or not there is any mention of sports betting.
This decision comes after a public comment period where sports teams in the commonwealth — as well as sportsbooks — spoke out against the proposal in letters to the commission.
“Are there any other examples in the U.S. where a standalone corporate logo is required to be accompanied by a legal disclaimer?” representatives of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and Boston Celtics wrote in a joint letter.
