Massachusetts Gaming Commission Fines Five Sportsbooks $80,500

Massachusetts regulators have issued fines to several major sportsbooks after reviewing a series of betting rule violations. The penalties involve wagers that were not permitted under state rules, including certain player prop bets and bets tied to restricted athletes.

Good to Know

• Massachusetts regulators fined five sportsbooks a combined $80,500.
• Eight violations were identified across incidents between 2023 and 2025.
• Most penalties involved player prop bets that are not allowed under state rules.

Massachusetts Regulators Fine Five Sportsbooks

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved eight fines totaling $80,500 against five licensed operators.

Penalized sportsbooks include BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, and FanDuel. Commission members voted unanimously to approve the fines.

Massachusetts regulators also oversee implementation of new legislation requiring sportsbooks to send betting limit notifications to players, making Massachusetts the first US state with such a rule.

Breakdown of Violations and Fines

Regulators identified violations tied mainly to impermissible prop bets and restricted wagering markets.

Key findings include:

Fanatics Betting and Gaming received the largest total penalty at $27,500

• $20,000 fine for accepting 154 bets on Russian UFC fighter Petr Yan between July 4 and July 24, 2025. Massachusetts bans wagering on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
• $7,500 fine for 36 Heisman Trophy bets placed during early 2025, a market not allowed in the state.

BetMGM received $21,500 across two violations

• $15,000 fine for accepting wagers on Petr Yan during two separate periods.
• $6,500 fine tied to a $10 player prop bet involving a UNLV wide receiver receiving yard market in October 2024.

DraftKings received $16,500 in total penalties

• $10,000 fine covering 89 player prop bets worth $1,600 during an Arizona vs Oregon NCAA basketball game on March 23, 2025.
• $6,500 fine related to 13 bets placed on a University of Michigan running back between January 5 and 6, 2024.

Caesars Sportsbook received a $10,000 fine

• The penalty involved six wagers on red cards during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament. Massachusetts prohibits betting on officiating decisions.
• The wagers totaled $8,270 and occurred between June and July 2024.

FanDuel received a $5,000 fine

• The violation involved prop bets tied to a Nebraska quarterback during a two day window in September 2023.

Self Reporting and Early Market Challenges

Regulators noted that every violation was reported by the operators themselves.

Nakisha Skinner highlighted that point during the meeting. Most incidents occurred during the first two years after legal sports betting launched in Massachusetts.

Operators either voided the wagers or compensated customers before the commission issued penalties.

Eileen OBrien supported all eight fines but indicated a preference for higher penalties in several cases. Other commissioners ultimately voted to keep at least one fine at $10,000 instead of increasing the amount.