Portnoy Involvement Stalls the MA Betting License Process
Dave Portnoy's involvement with Penn Entertainment has stalled the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's review of the initial batch of sports betting licenses. Plainridge Park Casino's application to start offering retail sports bets in January is affected by Portyoy.
MGC commissioners have concerns about Portnoy's gambling and the impact he might have on a younger audience when advertising sports betting. The commissioners ended their meeting without approving or rejecting the license application. A vote is expected next week. Penn Entertainment is the owner of Plainridge Park Casino and was hoping to receive the state’s first-ever sports gambling license on Tuesday.
Penn Entertainment bought a 36% stake in Barstool Sports in February 2020. It committed to take a controlling interest in the company by February 2023. BarStool sportsbooks are currently up and running in 13 states. The MGC is set to review MGM Springfield’s license application on Wednesday and Encore Boston Harbor”s application Thursday.
