The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said BetMGM MA sent thousands of banned promotional emails. Regulators called the case “egregious” and “disturbing.”
From April 2024 through July 2025, BetMGM sent thousands of email promotions to people under the legal gambling age, regulators alleged this week.
According to regulators, BetMGM confirmed that, as of September 4, 2025, 3,803 recipients of Boston Red Sox-related promos during that period were under 21.
The online sportsbook also could not confirm the birth dates of another 37,632 recipients of these emails, the state said at a regularly held meeting.
BetMGM “reported that the reason for the incident involved an individual employee failing to abide by BetMGM’s internal protocols,” said Zach Mercer, a lawyer at the MGC.
BetMGM MA Problem Gambling Violations
Besides thousands of underage recipients, 19 were on the state’s self-exclusion list, Massachusetts said. People on this list often have severe gambling problems and rely on state help to quit.
Another 25 recipients were in “cool off” status to control their gambling, the state said.
It is illegal to send promos to self-excluded or paused users in the state.
Online sports betting is highly addictive, with half of online sports bettors engaging in chasing losses, according to multiple surveys. Gambling addiction is linked to high rates of suicide.
‘Egregious’ and ‘Disturbing’ BetMGM Conduct
MGC Commissioner Eileen O’Brien slammed the alleged violations of Massachusetts sports betting law.
“The percentage of those emails where they cannot affirmatively say were over 21 is really disturbing, in addition to the VSE [voluntary self-exclusion] and the cool-off violations,” O’Brien said.
Commissioner Nakisha Skinner was also appalled by the alleged wrongdoing of BetMGM MA.
“The facts as they are presented today are particularly egregious,” Skinner said.
More information may come to light as the state investigates.
What’s Next in BetMGM MA Case
At the commision meeting, regulators did not act against BetMGM. Instead, they voted to move the case to an adjudicatory hearing.
The hearing will review evidence and arguments from the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) and the involved parties.
The case could result in substantial fines for BetMGM. In 2025, MGC fined DraftKings $450,000 for prohibited credit card deposits, the state’s largest sports betting fine to date.
Given this precedent, BetMGM could face a similar penalty.
It’s unlikely that regulators will seek to suspend the company’s sports betting license.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
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