Massachusetts Takes Action Against Illegal Betting

Sports betting has been spreading across the Massachusetts punters were too impatient and now the state’s law has intervened.

In the Greater Boston area, nine people were indicted on charges of providing illegal sports betting and money laundering. According to the local news…

…the state’s police and the attorney general’s Gaming Enforcement Division conducted an investigation. However, the aforementioned charges were not the only ones and the punters are also accused of attempting extortion.

The losing bettors have been threatened if they didn’t pay up as it appears from what can be found out at this point. One of the losing bettors was an undercover officer and which didn’t help the punters’ case.

The indictment came days after a bar manager pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling ring. He was indicted in 2017 for the same action.

People Want to Bet

It is pretty obvious that people in Massachusetts want to bet on sports…

…since they are willing to get some action, even if it means stepping on the other side of the law!

Illegal wagering is a major problem across the country, but what is worrisome is the fact that bookies in Massachusetts are threatening with physical violence if they do not get paid.

A Better Solution

According to experienced regulators, introducing harsh regulations or even worse, prohibition, is not a good idea. Such a move would drive gambling underground where no rules exist whatsoever. Such an environment is toxic and both providers and players are putting themselves at risk.

The best solution for everyone is to provide a safe environment which is well-regulated. The bookies need to be allowed to work without any worries that the law will get their hands on them as long as they are abiding by it. On the other side…

…players need to have the opportunity to place their bets with peace of mind!

Help from Private Sector

The solution to the problem is quite clear and MGM might help the state. Earlier in the year, they opened up the MGM Springfield, and now…

…they are willing to put sports betting on offer!

However, they first need to convince the state to regulate sports wagering and that is a process which lasts. President of the casino, Mike Matthis is willing to propose something like this to the state legislature “right after the first of the year.”

According to the local news, the governor is open to the idea, which may kick-start the entire process.

Speaking of MGM, the numbers from their latest financial report weren’t as near as convincing. The company has reported a decline for the second time in a two-month period in Massachusetts, but the numbers were similar in Connecticut as well.

MGM is the state’s leading operator in Massachusetts and their revenue in November was $34.1 million, which is down from October’s $35.5 million. The new facility in Springfield which we have already mentioned also reported a decrease.

Source:

“Massachusetts cracks down on illegal sports betting”, Derek Tonin, calvinayre.com, December 28, 2018.