Newly implemented regulations require licensed sports books to notify customers and give a reason for any restrictions on bets
Massachusetts has broken new ground in sports betting consumer protection by becoming the first state to require licensed sportsbooks to formally explain why they restrict accounts held by profitable bettors.
The regulation took effect on June 1, following approval by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in December 2025.
Under the new rule, any operator that limits a bettor’s account must notify that customer within 48 hours and provide a specific, individualized reason for the restriction.
Generic explanations are not acceptable, and state regulators have made clear that boilerplate responses will trigger scrutiny.
The rule has some reach beyond its effective date. Sportsbooks that restricted Massachusetts accounts before June 1 must also issue retroactive notices to those customers. It similarly covers bettors who were limited while wagering in another state but later placed bets in Massachusetts.
Since the regulation kicked in, affected bettors have taken to social media to share the notices they received.
The language varies by operator, with explanations typically pointing to perceived market advantages or specific wagering patterns as the basis for restrictions.
DraftKings, one of the larger operators active in the state, has referenced timing-based concerns and wagering structure in its notices. Fanatics has also started sending notifications to its Massachusetts customers.
The regulation traces back to July 2023, when the regulator first began examining whether sportsbooks were inappropriately restricting bettors who simply won too often.
A roundtable convened in May 2024 drew no operator representatives. A second session in September saw all licensed sportsbooks participate.
Data presented by operators during that process showed that limitations affect just 0.64 per cent of accounts. However, the same data confirmed a clear pattern – above-average winnings are associated with a higher likelihood of account restrictions.