Bally Bet Plans New July Launch Date in Massachusetts

In a recent agenda-setting meeting, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) confirmed that Bally Bet has postponed its planned launch date from June 27 to early July. The sportsbook’s certification of compliance meeting has been rescheduled to July 1, potentially leading to a launch on the same day if all requirements are met.

Initially, Bally Bet aimed to have its compliance meeting and launch on June 27. However, during Wednesday’s meeting, Jordan Maynard, the interim chair of the MGC, stated that Bally Bet had unresolved issues that needed to be addressed before going live in Massachusetts. As a result, the certification of compliance meeting has been moved to July 1, setting a tentative new launch date for the sportsbook.

Bally Bet’s Journey in Massachusetts

Bally Bet has been striving to enter the Massachusetts market since receiving a Category 3 sports betting license in January 2023. Despite obtaining the license, the operator did not launch within the first year, leading to a $1 million fee for license renewal in January 2024. The delay has been a significant setback for Bally Bet, but the compliance meeting and tentative launch date in July bring new hope.

Once operational, Bally Bet will be the seventh sportsbook in Massachusetts, ing prominent competitors like Rhode Island and Maryland, further expanding its reach.

Apart from the launch plans, the MGC has scheduled a roundtable meeting on August 1 with all sports betting operators in the state, including Bally Bet, to discuss implementing betting limits for players. This meeting is crucial as it follows a previously missed discussion that frustrated the commissioners due to the absence of major operators.

The August 1 meeting will focus on establishing a format and generating questions about sports betting limits for future discussions. The MGC aims to gather comprehensive information on how operators limit bettors, ensuring a valuable and productive dialogue.

Ongoing Efforts to Address Illegal Gambling

During the Wednesday meeting, commissioners also expressed their interest in addressing illegal gambling markets, focusing on operators like Bovada, which has received cease-and-desist letters in several states. This discussion will be a part of the broader effort to regulate and maintain the integrity of the sports betting industry in Massachusetts.

Despite the delays and challenges, Bally Bet’s anticipated launch in Massachusetts marks a significant milestone for the operator. With the rescheduled compliance meeting set for July 1, Bally Bet is on the verge of becoming the seventh sportsbook to operate in the Bay State. As the MGC continues to work on industry regulations and engage with operators, the landscape of sports betting in Massachusetts is poised for further development and growth.

Source:

Massachusetts: Bally Bet sets tentative new launch date in July, cdcgaming.com, June 27, 2024.