The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has released a report that reflects an increase in state residents who have stepped away from legal gambling. According to its findings, more residents have opted out of legal gaming post-pandemic.
The state adopted a voluntary self-exclusion program (VSE) in 2015, which is designed to allow players to step away from gambling activity for a predetermined amount of time.
Through the VSE, players can suspend rewards points and remove their names from marketing lists. The program also prohibits residents from going into casinos and other gambling venues.
According to the Commission’s findings, 1,430 people are enrolled in the program to date. More specifically, the report showed that 1,328 residents have voluntarily opted out of visiting the state’s casinos, with another 102 residents choosing to restrict themselves from placing sports wagers.
The Commission also found that enrollment in the state’s VSE has followed an upward trend within the past year. Enrollment last summer set a high-water mark. The addition of sports betting enrollments has contributed to the current increase as well.
More Massachusetts players have also entered the VSE since casinos reopened post-pandemic than they did before Covid-19, according to the commission’s data.
Massachusetts is one of the latest states to open a regulated sports betting market for its residents. State Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill to legalize online sports betting last summer.
The state’s regulated sports betting market went live on January 31. Mobile wagering in Massachusetts officially opened in March.
