Massachusetts launched the “Bet on Respect” initiative on August 31, 2026, allowing bettors who threaten, intimidate or harass athletes, coaches or other individuals connected to sporting events on which wagers are placed to be excluded from all licensed sportsbooks and casinos across the state. The measure was introduced by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) and carries national significance because it transforms what was previously a platform-specific sanction into a statewide regulatory exclusion.
Carrie Torrisi
The Commission, chaired by Jordan Maynard, will use existing powers under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 23N and 205 CMR 152.00, whose current version took effect on December 19, 2025. The regulation allows an individual to be listed when there is a knowing pattern of harassment causing serious alarm or substantial emotional distress, or credible threats of harm.
Reports may come from athletes, leagues, players’ associations, college programs, venues or any member of the public through the Athlete Harassment Submission Portal. The Sports Wagering Division, led by Carrie Torrisi, gathers evidence and may work with operators to identify the bettor. The case then moves to the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), headed by Caitlin Monahan, with Kathleen Kramer serving as Chief Enforcement Counsel.
If exclusion is imposed, the MGC notifies operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics, Bally Bet and Penn Sports Interactive, as well as the casinos Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino. The sanctioned bettor retains the right to an administrative hearing and, except in extraordinary circumstances, normally cannot seek removal from the list for at least five years.
The initiative is backed by the Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, New England Revolution, Boston Legacy FC and the NCAA. NCAA data cited around the launch indicate that 51% of Division I men’s basketball players have experienced online abuse linked to their performance, and 46% of those cases were directly related to gambling. Massachusetts currently taxes sports betting at 15% of retail gross gaming revenue and 20% for online/mobile, in a market restricted to bettors aged 21 and over.
