Massachusetts Sports Betting: Safety vs Accessibility
Massachusetts legalizes sports betting, offering more transparency & consumer protection, but also increasing the risk of gambling addiction.
Sports betting was recently legalized in Massachusetts, which has made it more accessible to a broader audience and has created a safer betting environment. The Chief Communications Officer of the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health, Phil Sherwood, has said that legalizing sports betting offers more transparency and consumer protection, unlike placing bets with illegal bookmakers where there are fewer protections in place. Legal sportsbooks like WynnBET Sportsbook at Encore Boston Harbor are overseen by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and offer more reliable payment methods.
However, with increased accessibility, there is also an increased risk of gambling addiction, particularly among young men who are more likely to be interested in sports. The Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health has implemented some measures to address problem gambling, including 24/7 online chat support and voluntary self-exclusion lists for casinos and sportsbooks. While there has been an uptick in people requesting self-exclusion since sports betting was legalized, the majority of gamblers do so responsibly without endangering their health.
Some bettors have already taken advantage of the new sports betting opportunities, such as at the WynnBET Sports Bar at Encore Boston Harbor. Boston resident John Rogers likes the environment at the sports bar and the convenience of the legal sportsbook, which means he no longer needs to use third-party sites like Bovada. However, there are concerns about the expansion of the gambling industry outpacing the resources of organizations like the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health. Encore Boston Harbor and DraftKings did not respond to interview requests on the matter.