The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has unanimously approved WynnBET’s application for a mobile sports betting license making it the first gaming operator in the state’s history to receive a digital license.
The decision came on Tuesday following seven hours of discussion and deliberation by the Commission and now means that WynnBet can launch its mobile sports betting app in March when the industry is expected to go live.
Speaking at the meeting, Jennifer Roberts, vice president and general counsel for WynnBET said:
“Madam Chair and members of the commission, were honored by this outcome today and we look forward to being a collaborative partner with the Commission going forward.”
The Commission has already received 15 applications in total for both retail and mobile sports betting and has so far issued one retail license to Encore Boston Harbor, WynnBet’s land-based partner. The casino is one of three land-based casino operators who are automatically granted consideration for a license.
WynnBet’s license was issued with some conditions as Commissioner Jordan Maynard stated that the regulator was unhappy with the information supplied in relation to diversity hiring and goals. This is a required condition of all Massachusetts sports betting licenses according to legislation.
Maynard said:
“We’ve been spoiled by looking at other applications, where we’ve seen (diversity) percentages. It’s not really that I want to look at every vendor, I want to see percentages. The only way I can understand how many is if I know what the universe looks like, that’s how ratios work.”
As a result, the Commission required that this information be supplied prior to WynnBet’s launch in 2023.
“Commissioners put conditions on the awarding of this license, including WynnBET providing the MGC with information on the company’s current vendor diversity statistics and establishing goals on diversity spend in advance of operating sports wagering in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
An experienced iGaming commentator and analyst based in New York City - Jenny reports on regulation and gambling industry news and events.