The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has hit PENN Sports Interactive with a $15,000 fine for comments made by ESPN host Rece Davis.
The fine relates to a March 2024 broadcast of ESPN College Gameday, in which Davis and sports betting analyst Erin Dolan were discussing an upcoming matchup between UConn and Northwestern.
Dolan suggested that Northwestern would score under 60.5 total team points, to which Davis said that this bet was not gambling but rather a “risk-free investment”.
He later took to X to explain that his comment was made in jest and should not to be taken seriously, stating: “During a segment this morning on College Game Day, due to ESPN Bet picks hitting yesterday, I joked the advice was more like “risk-free investing”.
“As we all know, such a thing does not exist. Obviously, there are risks. Though I’m not a gambler, I strongly encourage those who do partake, do so with prudence, care, caution, fiscal and personal responsibility and never over-extend. Sports are unpredictable.”
Following a review by the Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), Davis’s comment was found to be in violation of Massachusetts sports betting laws and ESPN Bet guidance policy, which bans terms such as “free,” “risk-free” and “can’t lose”.
In its report the MGC noted: “Mr Davis used the prohibited language ‘risk free investment’ after he referred to a sports wager. As a result of the aforementioned regulatory violations, the Commission hereby fines PSI d/b/a ESPNBet $15,000.”