WHO:                  Members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission including Chair Cathy Judd-Stein and Commissioners Brad Hill, Jordan Maynard, Eileen O’Brien, and Nakisha Skinner

WHAT:                The MGC will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, January 3, as well as multiple public meetings on Tuesday, January 3; Wednesday, January 4; and Thursday, January 5, 2023.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hold a public hearing and multiple public meetings next week regarding applications for Category 3 Sports Wagering Operator Licenses. Those events will be held in successive days – from Tuesday through Friday.

Tuesday’s Public Hearing is slated for 10 a.m. and is meant to provide the public an opportunity to give comment(s) on the six existing applications for untethered Category 3 Sports Wagering Operator Licenses, which can be found on the Commission’s website. Those wishing to speak at the hearing should email MGCcomments@massgaming.gov in advance to be placed on the list of speakers. Alternatively, written comments may also be submitted to the same email address with ‘Category 3 – Untethered public comment’ in the subject line. Written comments are preferred in advance of the hearing but will be welcome on a rolling basis through the licensing evaluation process.

All three subsequent public meetings will cover the remaining Category 3 Sports Wagering Operator License Applications tethered to a Category 1 Licensee that were not covered in December’s public meetings. Those upcoming meetings are expected to follow similar schedules, as detailed below.

The Commission will consider the application of Penn Sports Interactive, LLC – tethered to Plainridge Park Casino – on Tuesday, January 3 at 1:30 p.m., while the application of FBG Enterprises Opco, LLC (d/b/a Fanatics) – also tethered to Plainridge Park Casino – is expected to be covered on Wednesday, January 4’s public meeting at 10 a.m. If further time is needed on either or both of those considerations, discussion regarding each applicant will resume the day following their initial meeting date.

First, a legal framework relative to the award of a sports wagering license will be presented by General Counsel Todd Grossman. The applicant will then give a presentation of its application to the Commission along with demonstrations of technology and user experience in accordance with 205 CMR 218.06(3).

Those will be followed by presentations and analysis relevant to the review and evaluation the application, which is comprised of three parts: technical components, a report on the applicant’s suitability, and a financial and economic impact analysis.

A review and evaluation of the application is then set to follow, including, but not limited to, consideration of (1) experience and expertise related to Sports Wagering, (2) economic impact and other benefits to the Commonwealth if a license is awarded, (3) proposed measures related to responsible gaming, (4) an applicant’s willingness to foster racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, equity and inclusion, (5) technology intended to be used, (6) suitability of the applicant and qualifiers, (7) and other appropriate factors.

The Commission is then expected to meet in Executive Sessions following those portions of the meetings.

There is also time reserved at the end of the meeting for other business the Chair did not reasonably anticipate at the time of this posting.

Information regarding the Commission’s additional upcoming meetings to consider applications for untethered Category 3 Sports Wagering Operator Licenses will be posted on the MGC’s website as it becomes available.

For a complete list of agenda items and anticipated votes, view the official Meeting Notifications and Agendas on the Commission’s website. A LIVE STREAM will be available at MassGaming.com. Community members are also invited to follow along with live meeting updates by connecting with the Commission on Twitter, @MassGamingComm.

Please note that the Commission will conduct this public meeting remotely utilizing remote collaboration technology. Use of this technology is intended to ensure an adequate, alternative means of public access to the Commission’s deliberations for any interested member of the public. If there is any technical problem with the Commission’s remote connection, an alternative conference line will be noticed immediately on our website: MassGaming.com.

WHERE:            Conference Call Number: 1-646-741-5292

Tuesday Hearing ID: 112 770 0401                                                                      Tuesday Meeting ID: 111 318 9205

Wednesday Meeting ID: 112 343 4030                                                               Thursday Meeting ID: 111 034 3626