Massachusetts Gaming Commission Fines FanDuel $10K for Improper Bets

FanDuel has become the latest operator to face the wrath of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC).

Bay State’s sports betting regulator handed down a $10,000 fine to FanDuel Sportsbook this week. The penalty was due to the sportsbook accidentally allowing bettors to wager on in-state teams, which is illegal in Massachusetts. The improper bets surrounded the futures market for the NCAA Tournament but only totaled $11.

FanDuel self-reported the error to the MGC. According to the report, an employee accidentally lifted the ban on NCAA bets when opening up bets for the ACC Tournament, which included Boston College. While it was an honest mistake that resulted in a minuscule amount of wagers being placed, it still resulted in a fine from the state regulator.

“I take no issue for what you’ve recommended. “Commissioner Nakisha Skinner said of the decision. “I want to note that even though the commission has set a high priority for statutory violations, I’d want to recognize that this was an incident that involved three wagers for a total of $11. I want to make sure that when we go forward, any recommendation that comes from the IEB we consider the severity of the circumstances. We want to consider the degree of violation, if that makes sense, as we’re making sure the penalty is proportionate to the actual circumstances of the non-compliance issue.”

MGC Remains the Toughest Regulator in the US

The Bay State’s regulator has gained a reputation for being the toughest in the country. FanDuel’s recent fine is the latest example, with the MGC opting to assess the fine for such a minor mistake. However, the operator is far from the only one to be targeted by the group.

Barstool decided to end its presence in the sports betting market primarily because of the MGC. The regulator aggressively pursued the brand and operator Penn Entertainment over a variety of issues, including marketing. Even after the Barstool Sportsbook went offline, the MGC pressed Penn for answers and explanations.

FanDuel’s top rival, DraftKings, is currently awaiting a ruling from the MGC over an issue of their own. The group accuses DraftKings of allowing players to wager with credit card deposits, but the operator has shown those deposits were made in other markets. While the facts seem to support DraftKings’, that hasn’t stopped the MGC from assessing fines and penalties in the past.