Another operator of online sports betting sites is worthy of a Massachusetts license — although they still have work to do before they receive the permit.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) met Friday to review the application of a company connected to Betway, which is seeking one of the standalone licenses for mobile sports betting in the commonwealth.
The current law and structure in Massachusetts allow for up to 15 licenses for online sportsbooks, eight of which are “tethered” to brick-and-mortar gaming facilities and seven of which are not.
After meeting for several hours, the MGC decided that the criteria for a license to offer mobile sports betting in Massachusetts had been met, advancing the Betway application to next week’s group evaluation for “untethered” applicants.
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There was some recent corporate rejigging involving Betway in the U.S. In several states, Digital Gaming Corp. (DGC) had been using the Betway brand, which the company licensed from its owner, Super Group Ltd. Super Group recently completed an acquisition of DGC, putting Betway's U.S. operations under one roof.
The recent acquisition gave the MGC a bit of pause on Friday, as the application filed was by DGC, not Super Group.
“We have an applicant who's now in front of us with a different corporate structure than what was submitted,” Commissioner Eileen O’Brien noted.
The MGC went into a closed-door, “executive” session with the Betway representatives and emerged saying expectations had been met but that they would still require supplemental information regarding the bookmaker’s launch date and its new owner. Some information will come from states where Betway is already live and where regulators have already inquired about the corporate changes.
Friday’s meeting means nearly all applicants for “untethered” mobile sports betting licenses in Massachusetts have met the criteria thus far and will be evaluated as a group next week by the MGC. At that point, the regulator could vote to find the applicants suitable for a license, which would allow them to apply for a temporary wagering permit.
Here's a slide of all the states in which Betway is currently taking bets: pic.twitter.com/z3iHHNekD7
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) January 13, 2023
Mobile sports betting isn’t scheduled to start in Massachusetts until early March. However, the MGC has now advanced applications or issued favorable rulings to companies connected to Bally Bet, Barstool Sportsbook, BetMGM, Betr, Betway, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, and WynnBET. PointsBet is due next for a licensing hearing.
In the meantime, Betway is live in eight U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The Massachusetts application for Betway also noted the U.S. version of the brand is switching to the "Betway Global Sportsbook," a proprietary technology platform.
“Prior to rolling out the Betway Global Sportsbook, we have been conservative with our marketing investment in the five initial states,” the application says. “We will significantly increase our marketing investment once the Betway Global Sportsbook is rolled out, as the product will ensure all customers enjoy world-class entertainment in a safe and secure environment.”
