Encore Boston Harbor is once again facing scrutiny after reportedly taking illegal bets on a Boston College women’s basketball game. The move would be in violation of the state’s new sports betting law, which forbids bets on Massachusetts college teams.
However, Encore sports bettors were able to place bets, as reported by Boston Globe. The incident came just a few days after Encore admitted to a similar mistake, which they blamed on a gaming technology glitch on an outside vendor’s betting platform. To ensure gamblers couldn’t make the unauthorized bets again, the casino said it had “implemented additional measures to ensure compliance.”
According to the Globe’s report, Encore turned off its system controls to prevent Massachusetts college betting, but “the system automatically turned back on,” which allowed the second infraction to take place.
“Through our audits, we identified a programming error in the system as it relates to NCAA women’s college basketball markets and we are currently working with our provider on a permanent solution. In the interim, we have locked all NCAA women’s college basketball betting,” an Encore spokesperson stated, as reported by the aforementioned source.
Similar incidents have happened at two other casinos since the state’s betting law was enacted on January 31. In February, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park both self-reported that they had allowed wagers on Massachusetts college basketball games. The Gaming Commission is reviewing the incidents. Meanwhile, Massachusetts sports betting is due to launch on mobile on March 10.
