New Sports Betting Logo Requirements Passed for Massachusetts Sports Venues

• The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a new requirement for all sports betting operator logos in sports venues moving forward
• If a sports betting operator logo is on fixed signage or visible in a sports venue in the commonwealth it must include “21 or older” language
• Fenway Park, TD Garden, and Gillette Stadium currently have visible sports betting operator logos affected by new requirement

It’s another first for Massachusetts sports betting, as the Commonwealth’s gaming commission approved a new requirement for sports betting operator logos visible in state sporting venues.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a new requirement by a 3-2 vote that will necessitate “21 and older” language under any visible sports betting operator’s logo on signage or a fixed structure in a sporting venue in the commonwealth. This applies to visible standalone sports betting operator logos, such as the DraftKings logo over Fenway’s Green Monster, even if they’re not part of a specific sports betting advertisement.

The state is the first to approve such a requirement for sports venues with visible sports betting operator logos.

The MGC initially considered requiring the “21 and over” language for every sports betting operator logo in the commonwealth, but revised the provision to only include logos within sporting venues.

Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox Against Requirement

The Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox all submitted comments to the commission prior to today’s discussion. The sports franchises shared their displeasure with the proposed language requirement for sports betting operator logos on signage or fixed structures, questioning the “real likelihood that the display of a logo by itself on a sign might make minors more interested in betting on sports?”

“Are there any other examples in the U.S. where a standalone corporate logo is required to be accompanied by a legal disclaimer? It seems unusual and inconsistent to require ‘must be 21 or older’ language next to a sports betting logo, but not to require any minimum age disclaimers next to alcohol or car logos, when those legal products and services also have minimum legal ages,” the franchises wrote in their comments to the MGC.

Fenway Park, TD Garden, and Gillette Stadium currently have visible sports betting operator logos within their confines that will need to be addressed.

The requirement was approved 3-2, with MGC Chair Cathy Judd-Stein and Commissioner Brad Hill passing the dissenting votes. The rule will go into effect on Friday, June 30. Sports venues and operators will have 90 days to comply.

Operators Against Requirement

Fanatics Sportsbook, DraftKings, WynnBET, and PENN  Sports Interactive/Barstool all wrote the MGC with concerns over the initial branding requirements.

“As ‘branding’ only includes a sports wagering operator’s logo or trademark, there is no ‘call-to-action’ for the patron to engage in sports wagering activity. PENN is not aware of any jurisdiction with legal online sports wagering that requires an age disclaimer to be present on sports wagering operator branding. Requiring such a disclaimer any time an operator’s logo is displayed in a location where it may be viewed by persons under 21 years of age is overly burdensome and may result in material impacts to a sports wagering operator’s intellectual property,” Greg Brooks wrote on behalf of PENN Sports Interactive (Barstool).