Massachusetts Gaming Commission Launches Bet on Respect to Enable Exclusion of Harassing Sports Bettors
SCCG Take — Administrative exclusion lists provide regulators a faster, more effective deterrent than criminal penalties, directly hitting bettors where it matters most.
Massachusetts regulators have rolled out a new program allowing sports leagues and venues to report athlete harassment directly to gaming authorities, with violators facing potential bans from betting and casinos. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) cited regulation 205 CMR 152 to underpin the initiative, which targets threats to public trust, safety, and the integrity of gaming and sports.
MGC Chairman Jordan Maynard stated that athletes and officials deserve to be free of intimidation. The commission established a reporting portal, with the Sports Wagering Division collecting submissions and the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) reviewing them. The IEB may investigate further with subpoena power, deem the case outside exclusion criteria, or initiate the exclusion process. Affected individuals receive notice by first-class mail and have 30 days to appeal.
Program Details and Cited Evidence
The MGC referenced an NCAA study showing that 51% of all Division 1 men’s basketball players have faced online abuse regarding their athletic performance, and 46% of those student athletes reported that abuse was directly tied to gambling. The program has drawn support from the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Boston Legacy FC, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, and the NCAA. Operators including Bally Bet, BetMGM, MGM Springfield, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Encore Boston Harbor, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, Penn Entertainment, and Plainridge Park Casino also back the effort.
FanDuel stated on X: “FanDuel is proud to support the (MGC’s) Bet on Respect initiative and its efforts to address athlete harassment. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward abusive conduct and will continue working with regulators, leagues, and teams to help foster a safe and respectful environment for everyone involved in sports.”
Precedent in Other States
As reported by CDC Gaming, other jurisdictions have enacted parallel measures. In 2024, West Virginia passed House Bill 4700, empowering its lottery commission to ban individuals for harassing participants in sporting events. In May, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed Senate Bill 325, requiring the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to exclude persons who threaten violence or harm tied to sports gaming.
Ronnie Jones, a gaming regulatory consultant and former LGCB chairman, told CDC Gaming that the NCAA study was “incredibly disturbing to me as a former regulator.” Jones added that attaining a criminal conviction “is always going to be a heavier lift than pursuing an administrative sanction” and that prolific sports bettors “fear exclusion from betting far more than a criminal fine.” This administrative route offers regulators a targeted enforcement option grounded in existing licensing authority.
Reporting: CDC Gaming
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Administrative bans hit bettors harder and faster than criminal charges — a smart, scalable deterrent going national.
We have been working with regulators and operators in every U.S. market for decades, and this is a genuine innovation — treating harassment as an integrity threat, not just a PR problem. Administrative exclusion sidesteps slow criminal processes and removes the business from bad actors instantly. Expect more states to follow Massachusetts, Louisiana, and West Virginia.
- Massachusetts regulators accept harassment reports from leagues, investigate, and can exclude bettors within 30 days
- NCAA data: 51% of D1 men's basketball players face online abuse, 46% tied to gambling
- West Virginia and Louisiana enacted similar administrative exclusion laws in 2024
SCCG angle: SCCG advises operators and leagues on responsible gaming policy, regulatory engagement, and crisis response across all U.S. jurisdictions. We connect clients directly to regulators, compliance architects, and integrity consultants who have built these frameworks — helping you stay ahead of exclusion protocols and shape policy before it lands on your desk.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
Subscribe →