{"id":1597474,"date":"2024-10-01T11:45:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T15:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/?p=1597474"},"modified":"2024-10-01T11:45:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T15:45:47","slug":"massachusetts-clarifies-ban-on-individual-college-athlete-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/news\/massachusetts-clarifies-ban-on-individual-college-athlete-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Massachusetts Clarifies Ban on Individual College Athlete Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has voted unanimously to add new language to the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Catalog<\/a> explicitly prohibiting bets on individual collegiate sports awards.<\/p>\n

Massachusetts Gaming Commission opted to add the new language to the sports betting catalog to clear up confusion<\/h2>\n

The MGC\u2019s sports wagering division recommended the rule change in order to eliminate confusion over whether such wagers are permissible in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

Commissioners voted 4-0 to add the new language to the Massachusetts sports betting catalog at the MGC\u2019s Sept. 26 meeting. The state\u2019s wagering event catalog mentions the prohibition on student-athlete player props<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, a separate section states that bets on individual sports performance awards are allowed for all approved leagues. Of course, this section excludes the prohibition on college player awards.<\/p>\n

The ban on college player awards betting is already covered by the Massachusetts regulation, banning wagers that are dependent on the performance of an individual college athlete.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, a ban on college player prop bets has been a part of Massachusetts\u2019 gambling regulations since the launch of sports betting in the commonwealth in early 2023.<\/p>\n

Andrew Steffen, the MGC\u2019s sports wagering operations manager, told commissioners that Massachusetts sportsbook operators were previously made aware that awards were included in the prohibition of individual college player bets.<\/p>\n

Numerous collegiate sports awards are banned in the Bay State<\/h2>\n

Additionally, Steffen said none of the operators have offered futures bets on individual collegiate player awards. This means the clarifying language is supposed to serve as more of a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n

In fact, the new language banning wagering on individual collegiate awards serves as an addendum to a section in the event catalog that permits wagering on awards based on a player\u2019s regular season statistics that are recognized by an approved league or governing body.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, wagering on individual professional athlete awards, such as trophies and championship game MVPs, remains banned in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

Here is an overview of the majority of the collegiate sports awards that are banned for Massachusetts bettors:<\/p>\n