MGC to hold public meetings this week and next

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hold public meetings this week and next week regarding applications for Tethered Category 3 Sports Wagering Licenses. The conference call number for the public meetings is 1-646-741-5292. Meeting IDs will be available on each meeting’s individual Notification and Agenda, which can be found on the MGC’s website.

The public meetings will be held at 10 a.m. each morning of the following dates.

Today – Tuesday, 13 December
Tomorrow – Wednesday, 14 December
Monday, 19 December
Tuesday, 20 December

Each public meeting is expected to cover one or more applications for Category 3 Sports Wagering Licenses tethered to a Category 1 Licensee or Applicant.

Today’s meeting will cover WynnBET and Caesars Entertainment Inc.’s applications. Those two entities are seeking to be Category 3 Licensees tethered to Encore Boston Harbor, which was awarded a Category 1 Sports Wagering License last week.

Tomorrow’s meeting will begin with a resumption on the discussion regarding MGM Springfield’s application for a Category 1 Sports Wagering License. Following that, the Commission will discuss BetMGM’s application for a Category 3 Sports Wagering License tethered to MGM Springfield.

The meeting scheduled for Monday, 19 December will start with the Commission picking back up their discussion on Plainridge Park Casino’s application for a Category 1 Sports Wagering License. After that portion, the Commission is set to cover both Penn Sports Interactive’s and Fantatics’ applications for Category 3 Sports Wagering Licenses tethered to Plainridge Park Casino. This meeting may carry into Tuesday, 20 December.

If any application discussion has not been completed by the close of business on its associated meeting date, the Commission anticipates it will conclude discussion at the beginning of the next available meeting date.

Application considerations regarding Category 3 Sports Wagering Licenses tethered to a Category 1 Licensee or Applicant are expected to follow similar schedules, as detailed below.

First, a legal framework relative to the award of a Category 3 sports wagering operator license will be presented by General Counsel Todd Grossman. The applicant will then give a presentation of its application to the Commission in accordance with 205 CMR 218.06(3).

That will be followed by presentations and analysis relevant to the review and evaluation of the application, which is comprised of three parts: technical components, a report on the applicant’s suitability, and a financial and economic impact analysis.

A review and evaluation of the application is then set to follow, including, but not limited to, consideration of (1) experience and expertise related to sports wagering, (2) economic impact and other benefits to the Commonwealth if a license is awarded, (3) proposed measures related to responsible gaming, (4) an applicant’s willingness to foster racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, equity and inclusion, (5) technology intended to be used, (6) suitability of the applicant and qualifiers, (7) and other appropriate factors.

The Commission is then expected to meet in Executive Session following that portion of each meeting.

There is also time reserved at the end of the meeting for other business the Chair did not reasonably anticipate at the time of this posting.