Massachusetts Sports Betting Law Puts Regulators in a Pickle Over Temporary Licensing

Massachusetts Sports Betting Law Puts Regulators in a Pickle over Temporary Licensing. Provisions in the law allow for temporary licenses that could let operators take wagers for a year, but then force them to shut down if they don't receive a permanent permit. Head of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission warned of "complexities" that can arise when implementing the legislation.

Massachusetts sports betting law has a problem with temporary licenses for online sportsbook operators. The law limits the number of temporary licences to 15, but there is no cap on permanent licenses. More than 30 operators have expressed interest in taking bets in Massachusetts. If a temporary license is not granted, the business would have to close down. The commission's executive director has concerns about consumer protections. It also has questions about what will happen to the bettor's money. There will be 7 permanent online licenses that will not be connected to a casino or racetrack.

The launch of sports betting in Massachusetts has been a long time coming but still has no official start date. The regulator is working on both the temporary and permanent licensing process. It is possible that a temporary license may only be valid for a short period of time.