- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission unanimously approved the Category 1 sports betting license of MGM Springfield last Monday.
- MGM Springfield tweaked its application by providing more details and answering questions from commissioners.
- Encore Boston Harbor was the first casino to be issued a retail sport betting license two weeks ago.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission unanimously voted to approve the in-person sports betting license application of MGM Springfield.
The 5-0 vote came after the Commission deferred the approval of the casino’s license because they felt that its application “relied heavily on the separate application connected to its mobile operator BetMGM. Following that rejection, MGM Springfield supported its application with more details while answering questions from the commissioners last Monday.
In a statement, MGM Springfield President Chris Kelley said:
MGM Springfield has constructed a 4,586-square-foot sportsbook with stadium seating, a 45-foot viewing wall, betting windows, and self-service betting kiosks. The kiosks are scattered in the sportsbook area as well as around the casino’s main gaming floor and high-limits area.
Commissioners Had “Simmering Concerns”
Allegations were lodged in a lawsuit by former employee Chelan Brown who says she was retaliated against after notifying management of inaccurate diversity hiring reports. https://t.co/0tlqUnwOfg
— masslivenews (@masslivenews) December 19, 2022
Since the Gaming Commission began hearing sports betting license applications last December 7th, commissioners have voiced out “simmering concerns” that it is not getting its full due from the casino and that it has not been wholly honest about its employment diversity status.
When MGM Springfield opened in 2018, company officials said that the project would create around 3,000 permanent jobs. However, in its latest report to the Gaming Commission, the Springfield casino declared that it had only 1,330 employees. That figure is a significant decline from the 2,500 workers that it employed prior to the pandemic.
Commissioners are also wary about a lawsuit filed by a former diversity manager at MGM Springfield alleging that he was fired after going to higher management to complain that diversity reports sent to the commissioners were not accurate. MGM has vehemently denied those accusations and said that they will move to dismiss the lawsuit once served.
Encore Boston Harbor First to Get Sports Betting License
Encore Boston Harbor awarded first sports betting license in Massachusetts https://t.co/J5q5wDsvfX
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) December 10, 2022
Two weeks ago, the MGB issued the state’s first sports betting license to Encore Boston Harbor, awarding the Everett casino a Category 1 sports betting license which will allow it to operate a retail sportsbook under the WynnBET skin. Encore is building the sportsbook at the current WynnBET Sports Bar which is just a walking distance from its casino floor.
The WynnBET Sports bar will be converted into a retail sportsbook that will have 10 sports betting windows and 29 self-service sports betting kiosks. Encore Boston Harbor is also looking to expand its parking area in anticipation of the sportsbook’s opening.
On the day Encore’s sports betting license was issued, Commissioners talked about its application’s ability to stand on its own, with Encore perceived as the true owner of the license and WynnBET merely its partner. Meanwhile, they said they needed more time to study the independence of the MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park applications. But with MGM now joining Encore, only Plainridge Park remains without an approved license.
