What Massachusetts Gaming Commission does

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is a state government regulatory agency established in 2011 under the Expanded Gaming Act (Chapter 194 of the Acts of 2011, M.G.L. chapter 23K) to oversee the legal casino, horse racing, and sports wagering industries in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is headquartered at 101 Federal St., 12th Floor, Boston, with a satellite Division of Racing office at Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville. The Commission is led by a Chair (Jordan Maynard, reappointed March 2026), four additional Commissioners, an Executive Director (Dean Serpa), and a Director-level staff covering Workforce/Supplier/Diversity Development, Research and Responsible Gaming, and Communications. It operates through a five-member appointed Commission supported by roughly 100–250 employees.

The MGC's core products are regulatory services rather than commercial offerings: casino gaming regulation (overseeing three Category 1/2 licensees — Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, Plainridge Park Casino), sports wagering regulation (covering online and retail operators that launched in January 2023, plus 25 approved DFS operators), horse racing regulation, employee and vendor licensing, the Community Mitigation Fund grant program, and nationally recognized responsible gaming programs (PlayWell, PlayMyWay, GameSense, Voluntary Self-Exclusion). Workforce development is delivered through partner institutions (Cambridge College Bet On U, HCC/STCC MCCTI, Bristol CATCH Institute, HCC MGM Culinary Institute). The Commission also conducts a research agenda on problem gambling prevention and treatment.

The Commission's business model is non-commercial. It does not sell products or services and is funded through state budget appropriations. Revenue enters the state's coffers from the industries it regulates — Category 1 casinos taxed at 25% of GGR, Category 2 slot parlors at 49% of GGR, sports wagering licensees at 15–20% of GSWR — yielding $87.39M in state taxes collected in FY2025 and roughly $118.5M in first-year sports wagering tax revenue (Jan 2023–Jan 2024). The Commission's pricing is therefore the imposition of taxes and license fees on its regulated entities, not a commercial pricing model. Its go-to-market is government-public, executed through massgaming.com, public meetings (live-streamed), press releases, and @MassGamingComm on X. Customer segments are exclusively institutional: Category 1/2 casino licensees, Category 1/2/3 sports wagering operators, DFS operators (regulated in coordination with the AGO), horse racing licensees, licensed vendors and employees, and host/surrounding communities receiving Community Mitigation Fund grants.

Name

Massachusetts Gaming Commission

Legal name

Massachusetts Gaming Commission

Website

https://massgaming.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is the state regulatory agency that licenses and oversees casino gaming, sports wagering, horse racing, and DFS operators in Massachusetts, funded by state appropriations and operating responsible gaming programs (PlayWell, PlayMyWay, Voluntary Self-Exclusion).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gaming Regulation

NAICS

Gambling Industries (7132), Casinos (except Casino Hotels) (71321)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Gambling, Alcohol & Controlled Substances Regulators (BPAIAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory Investigations, Enforcement Response & Legal Representation (MPAEAOAM), Gaming Regulatory Consulting & Advisory (MPAEAOAA), Regulatory Reporting, Audit & Assurance Services (MPAEAOAC)

Keywords

• Gaming regulation
• Casino oversight
• Sports wagering licensing
• Responsible gaming programs
• Horse racing regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is a state regulatory body that oversees and licenses casino gaming, sports wagering, and horse racing in Massachusetts. It issues operator, vendor, and employee licenses, collects gaming tax revenue, enforces compliance, administers responsible gaming programs (PlayWell, PlayMyWay, Voluntary Self-Exclusion), and funds host-community mitigation and problem gambling prevention initiatives.

Product overview

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is a regulatory body overseeing the legal casino, horse racing, and sports wagering industries in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Rather than a unified product platform, the MGC offers a portfolio of regulatory services and programs including casino, sports wagering, and horse racing regulation, alongside responsible gaming initiatives (PlayWell, PlayMyWay, Voluntary Self-Exclusion), licensing services for employees and vendors, community mitigation funding, and workforce development programs through partner institutions. The MGC also maintains research initiatives and revenue reporting for the gaming industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlayWell: MGC's responsible gaming program providing player guidance and support to help keep Massachusetts gambling spaces safer and more balanced.
• PlayMyWay
• GameSense

Products and services

• Casino Gaming Regulation Regulatory oversight and licensing of Category 1 resort casinos (Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield) and Category 2 slots parlor (Plainridge Park Casino) operating in Massachusetts.
• Sports Wagering Regulation Oversight and licensing of online and retail sports betting operators across Category 1, 2, and 3 license types.
• Horse Racing Regulation Regulatory oversight of the Massachusetts horse racing industry through the Division of Racing under M.G.L. Chapters 128A and 128C.
• PlayWell Responsible Gaming Program Responsible gaming program providing player guidance and support to keep Massachusetts gambling spaces safer, with Info Centers located at all Massachusetts casinos.
• PlayMyWay Budget-setting tool for slot machine play available at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino, allowing players to monitor spending on electronic gaming machines.
• Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program Program allowing participants to voluntarily prohibit themselves from accessing the gaming floor at all Massachusetts casinos for a predetermined length of time.
• Community Mitigation Fund Fund helping to offset costs related to the construction and operation of casinos for host and surrounding communities.
• Vendor and Supplier Licensing Licensing and registration services for vendors and suppliers seeking to conduct business with gaming establishments in Massachusetts.
• Employee Licensing and Registration Licensing services for casino employees and gaming vendors required to be licensed or registered by MGC prior to commencing employment or conducting business.
• Daily Fantasy Sports Regulation DFS regulation in Massachusetts overseen by the Office of the Attorney General through 940 CMR 34:00, protecting consumers who play daily fantasy sports contests.
• Research Agenda Comprehensive research program informing strategies, practices and policies for responsible gaming and problem gambling prevention and treatment, including the MODE data access program.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

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Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreOthers · 24 April 2020During the COVID-19 pandemic, the MGC collaborated with the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide webinars and resources for small businesses serving the casino and horse racing industry. SBA representatives provided information on federal relief programs including the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Over 450 lenders participated in PPP in Massachusetts with 47,000 loan approvals.
• Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGC partnered with LEAF through its workforce development grant program to offer technical assistance to small businesses providing goods to casinos and horse racing industry. LEAF conducted free webinars on managing cash flow during the COVID-19 crisis and provides one-on-one consulting through their Elevate Small Businesses program.
• Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGC engaged FCCDC to provide targeted one-on-one consulting expertise to small and medium-sized Massachusetts-based companies who are vendors to the state's gaming licensees.
• Cambridge College - Greater Boston Gaming Career InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGC collaborated with Cambridge College to create the Greater Boston Gaming Career Institute (Bet On U), a pioneering program to train casino workers. Encore Boston Harbor provided 50 fully-funded scholarships for eligible local residents. The program trains dealers and other gaming industry personnel.
• Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGC supported the Massachusetts Casino Career Training Institute, a collaboration between HCC and STCC to prepare students for casino employment. MGM Springfield offers tuition reimbursement for students who work at the resort for a year.
• Bristol Community College (CATCH Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGC issued the state's first Gaming School Certification to Bristol Community College for its Casino Management program, preparing students for casino employment in culinary arts, tourism management, and casino operations.
• Holyoke Community College MGM Culinary InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between City of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College, and MGM Springfield to provide the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute offering hospitality and culinary programs, with 50 free annual spots for Holyoke residents.
• Center for Women & EnterpriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGC partnered with the Center for Women & Enterprise to produce presentations outlining the casino procurement process and licensing/registration requirements for vendors.
• Massachusetts Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Public Health Trust Fund is administered jointly between the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to support problem gambling prevention and treatment programs.
• Massachusetts Department of RevenuecoreOthersThe MGC coordinates with the Department of Revenue for tax collection and intercepts ($204,700 in first year of sports wagering) from gaming revenue.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nevada Gaming Control Board: Nevada's state gaming regulatory agency overseeing casino licensing, enforcement, and compliance — the largest and most established U.S. gaming regulator. Directly comparable to MGC in mandate and operational structure, though operating at substantially larger scale.
• UK Gambling Commission: United Kingdom's national gambling regulator overseeing commercial gambling operators, online betting, and responsible gaming standards. Comparable regulatory mandate covering casino, sports wagering, and player protection — though operating at national scale rather than state.

Direct peers

• New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement: New Jersey's gaming regulator overseeing Atlantic City casinos and the state's mature online sports wagering market. Closely mirrors MGC's integrated oversight of land-based casinos, online sports betting, and responsible gaming programs.
• Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board: Pennsylvania's gaming regulator overseeing Category 1–3 casinos, sports wagering, and fantasy contests. Highly comparable regulatory scope to MGC, including similar licensing tiers and responsible gaming obligations.
• New York State Gaming Commission: Regulates commercial casinos, lottery, horse racing, and mobile sports betting in New York. Comparable multi-vertical gaming oversight mandate and active enforcement posture similar to MGC's structure.
• Illinois Gaming Board: Illinois's state gaming regulator overseeing casinos, video gaming terminals, and sports wagering. Comparable regulatory authority, licensing structure, and enforcement function to MGC.
• Michigan Gaming Control Board: Michigan's gaming regulator overseeing commercial casinos, tribal gaming compacts, and online sports betting. Comparable integrated regulatory structure and responsible gaming oversight to MGC.
• Ohio Casino Control Commission: Ohio's casino and sports wagering regulator overseeing four casinos and mobile sportsbooks. Comparable mid-sized state regulatory scope and licensee structure to MGC.

Regional players

• Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario: Ontario's combined alcohol and gambling regulator overseeing the province's newly launched iGaming market and land-based casinos. Comparable regulatory framework for casino, sports wagering, and player protection, operating in a different jurisdiction.
• Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection - Gaming Division: Connecticut's gaming regulator overseeing tribal-state compacts, sports wagering, and lottery. Comparable regional state-level gaming oversight mandate, though smaller in licensee scale than MGC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/massgamingcomm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwBb2KqL8jE7g3-Y
• Facebookfacebook.com/MAGamingComm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massachusetts-gaming-commission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Gaming Commission