The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has fined Encore Boston Harbor in Everett $40,000 after the resort permitted wagers on Boston College women’s basketball games, as wagers on in-state colleges in the state are only allowed when the teams are competing in a tournament.
The fine addresses occurrences of noncompliance on Feb. 12, 2023, and Feb. 19, 2023, marking it the biggest charge issued by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission since the launch of regulated retail sports betting on Jan. 31, 2023. Encore Boston Harbor has been previously fined $10,000 for accepting a bets on the same team on Feb. 2, 2023.
The MGC found that in both cases, the unlawful wagers occurred because an Encore Boston Harbor vendor failed to blacklist Boston College women’s basketball team events effectively.
Jacqui Krum, Encore Boston Harbor’s general counsel and senior vice president, informed the Massachusetts Gaming Commission of the violations on Feb. 21. The Feb. 12, event resulted in a handle of $163, with three bets placed at a sports betting kiosk. One wager won for $53. Then, Encore Boston Harbor accepted four bets on a regular season Boston College game on Feb. 19, for a handle of $50 with all wagers were made at a sports betting kiosk. One wager won $9.09.
After the Feb. 2 incident, executives from Encore Boston Harbor explained the incident and aimed to clear up some confusion. They clarified that Encore Boston Harbor’s technology provider, GAN, listed Boston College women’s basketball by two separate names. One of these names was not highlighted on GAN’s list of banned markets. After the incidents, Jacqui Krum added that Encore Boston Harbor had used a monitoring system to assess available sports betting markets and Massachusetts college sports offerings twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening to ensure that no wagers on in-state colleges are accepted.
