Fanatics Betting and Gaming has been deemed “preliminarily suitable” for a temporary category three operator licence by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Following multiple public meetings with the MGC, where Fanatics presented its case and Commissioners reviewed the firm’s application for a sports wagering operator licence, the latter voted unanimously in its favour.
Commissioners required, and Fanatics agreed, to approve an internal responsible gaming plan and provide that plan to the MGC ahead of launching sports wagering in Massachusetts.
The temporary category three licence comes ahead of retail sports wagering at category one licences, which will launch in Massachusetts on January 31, with online and mobile sports wagering targeted to launch in March 2023.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 23N directs the MGC to award category one sports wagering licences to those entities that hold a gaming licence under MGL Chapter 23K should that entity seek to offer sports wagering, meet requirements set forth by the MGC and pay associated fees.
A category one sports wagering licence also permits the holder to offer sports wagering through no more than two individually branded mobile applications or other digital platforms approved by the MGC.
Those platforms must be qualified for, and issued, a category three sports wagering licence according to MGL Chapter 23N.
The Fanatics category three licence will be tethered to Plainridge Park Casino’s category one sports wagering licence.
Fanatics will now be eligible to request a temporary licence to conduct sports wagering while a full suitability review is undertaken by the MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. Following a temporary licence being granted, Fanatics must obtain an operations certificate and meet additional conditions before they can accept wagers on approved sporting events.
