Despite myriad questions around past violations and an extended executive session to get more answers, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Wednesday gave a verbal thumbs-up to Boston-based DraftKings during its Category 3 untethered sports wagering application review.
The commission will not vote during the review period, which extends through next week. It has plans instead to revisit applications and starting next Wednesday announce which platforms will get initial approval. So far, the commission has reviewed applications from Bally's,'FanDuel, Betr, and DraftKings. It will finish with Digital Gaming (Friday) and PointsBet (Monday).
Under the new state law, the commission can issue up to seven standalone mobile licenses, but only six companies have applied. Five others — Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics, and WynnBET — applied for tethered digital licenses. So far, all but Fanatics have been approved. The MGC announced in December that it would launch retail sportsbooks Jan. 31 and is aiming for early March for digital platforms.
As it has with other applicants, the MGC went section by section during the DraftKings review, covering issues such as DraftKings’ partnership with the UFC and ex-fighter Conor McGregor, the company’s amassed database of consumers in Massachusetts, its level of diversity, and its responsible gaming practices.