Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Supports Federal Oversight of Gambling

Jordan Maynard, the chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), calls for federal intervention to establish nationwide regulations. Maynard assumed his role with the MGC in August 2022, the same month sports betting became legal in the state. He was then permanently appointed chair in the fall of 2023.

Speaking to The Guardian, Maynard highlighted a view that prioritizes strong regulatory systems. According to him, the US betting industry has grown exponentially fast, becoming legalized in 38 states since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was repealed in 2018. 

Maynard also told the media outlet that the purpose of regulation is not to prevent all adverse outcomes but to ensure participant education, adherence to standards, and accountability for industry players. 

The discussion surrounding federal oversight includes nationwide exclusion lists, which are currently managed at the state level. This allows individuals to circumvent restrictions by simply crossing state lines. Maynard views establishing a national exclusion list as a topic "ripe for a federal conversation."

Rapid technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, are also influencing the gambling sector. Maynard suggests that if operators utilize the technology to target bettors, the same technology should be leveraged to promote responsible gambling behaviors. He believes that greater regulatory involvement can accelerate this process.

Massachusetts eyes iGaming

In April, Massachusetts sports betting saw an increase in revenue and handle. Revenue rose to $65.9 million, 34.2% higher than April 2024 and an improvement of 25.8% this past March.

As land-based gambling continues to perform well, Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced twin House and Senate measures, HD4084 and SD2240, to legalize and regulate online casinos. Residents of the state do not have access to real money online casinos.

Although these bills haven't seen much progress recently, they propose a framework for regulating iGaming and suggest the establishment of an Internet Gaming Fund to manage and distribute funds from the state's online casino proceeds.

Yet, a recurring argument from legal online gambling operators and their representatives, when faced with proposed regulations such as curbing bets on specific student-athletes or bans on in-game betting, is that such measures could create friction for gamblers and potentially drive them to illegal, unregulated platforms. One of the goals of our best sports betting sites is to limit gamblers from accessing illegal, unregulated platforms and instead choose regulated options.

Maynard has expressed weariness with this argument, stating that the unregulated market should not be used as an excuse for every operator's resistance to regulation.

The scale of the offshore sports betting market remains a challenge for officials across the U.S. Despite the growth of the legal market, some studies suggest a substantial black market persists. 

Maynard acknowledges the ongoing effort required to combat the illegal market while simultaneously promoting the advantages of the regulated market, which offers state-level protections and oversight.

He concluded, "We’re going to have to play Whac-a-Mole a little bit to combat the illegal market, while promoting the fact that the legal market has protection and oversight by the state that the illegal market doesn’t have."