The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has voted to approve sports apparel giant Fanatics for a temporary sports betting operator license, while the regulator also appointed Bruce Band to lead its new sports betting division.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve Fanatics for a category 3 sports betting operator license, which will be tethered to Plainridge Park Casino’s Category 1 sports wagering license.
However, Fanatics will need to undergo a full suitability review by the MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. After this, Fanatics will also need to an operations certificate and meet additional conditions to begin accepting sports wagers.
The preliminary approval comes after Fanatics earlier this month announced that it will use Amelco’s source code to power its sports betting product in the state.
The MGC intends to launch retail sports betting at category 1 licensees on January 31, with online and mobile wagering scheduled to follow in March.
New MGC appointment
Meanwhile, the MGC announced the appointment of Bruce Band to lead its new sports wagering division.
In his new role, Band oversee the new division and coordinate with other divisions within the MGC including research and responsible gaming, IT, legal, and the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau.
Band has worked in the gambling industry for over 40 years and has served as assistant director of the MGC investigations and Enforcement Bureau and Gaming Agents Division chief since 2014.
Prior to this, he worked in various roles at the New Jersey Casino Control Commission.
“Bruce has been an essential member of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission team for nearly a decade, and on behalf of my fellow commissioners, I am thrilled he will be taking on this new role leading our sports wagering division,” MGC chair Cathy Judd-Stein said.
“Because Bruce has been working closely on the implementation of sports wagering already, he won’t miss a beat as he begins his new responsibilities and prioritizes the integrity of sports wagering and the safety of patrons here in the Commonwealth.”