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The sports betting market throughout the United States has been putting up some huge numbers since the NFL season returned, and that should continue to be the case for the rest of the year. Most states already have their industry up and running, but some states still have issues to figure out.
Kentucky has a lower sports betting age than other states, and that has created an issue for some of the online sportsbooks. Massachusetts is looking to implement a new rule aimed at protecting data, and mobile sportsbook apps are not happy with it.
While there are other states that still have some concerns in random areas, these issues in Kentucky and Massachusetts will need to be sorted out soon.
Kentucky Must Battle Age Restrictions
The state of Kentucky has set the legal sports betting age at 18, but that is only for the retail sportsbooks in the state. What makes that even more confusing is that some of the retail sportsbooks are actually choosing to keep the legal age to 21.
Once online sports betting goes live in Kentucky on September 28th, bettors will be required to be at least 21 years of age to make a wager at most sportsbooks. That is standard in the sports betting industry, but the different betting ages is confusing for all parties in Kentucky.
DraftKings and bet365 are going to allow those that are at least 18 years of age to make wagers, and that is where the confusion is going to come in. It should also give those two operators an advantage over the rest of the industry, but other operators aren’t concerned.
There are currently just five other sports betting markets with a legal sports betting age set at 18 years of age, and they are all smaller markets. Kentucky is gearing up for a big online sports betting launch at the end of the month, and retail betting has already been successful.
Kentucky Downs has already posted record handle totals since retail sports betting went live, and other race tracks have been busy as well. Churchill Downs, Inc. is expected to be the clear leader in retail sports betting in the state, as there are more than five tracks that are open for business.
Some Operators Not Happy in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission just recently held a meeting to discuss a number of issues, and sportsbook operators had plenty to say. The MGC is planning to implement the strictest data restriction policies in the country, and operators believe it could hurt the overall product.
These new rules would require bettors to opt in if they want to let the sportsbooks share their personal data with third parties. The operators that spoke at the meeting would rather see the opportunity to opt out, and that will now be considered.
The biggest reason that the MGC wants to implement this policy is because it believes that it will help eliminate problem gambling. There has been a real push with regulators throughout the state to try and promote responsible gambling, but operators are not convinced that this policy will work.
These rules are set to go into effect on November 17th, but many in the state believe that more time is needed. There is some language that is currently used in the new rules that are confusing to operators, and it will take some time before things are ironed out.
