From its inception, it was clear that ESPN Bet could be walking a regulatory tightrope. After all, the massive sports reporting network has dozens of shows featuring a multitude of guests every day. The possibility that one or more of them will way say or do something that attracts the attention of gaming regulators was always there – and now it’s happening.
Late last week, during a meeting of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting this member’s of the group’s Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) addressed off-hand comments made on ESPN by host Reece Davis. During the March broadcast, Davis suggested, offhandedly, that taking the over on a Northwestern/UConn match up was something of a sure thing. “Some would call this wagering, gambling. I think the way you’ve sold this; I think what it is, is a risk-free investment,” Davis said.
While Davis’ comments would be fine for someone on almost any other network, ESPN’s relationship to ESPN Bet made the suggestion of sports betting as a “risk-free investment” a much thornier issue – and that’s where the Massachusetts Gaming Commission comes into the picture. The Commission is now launching an investigation into Davis’ comments for violating a state regulation that does not allow sports betting operators to, “Describe Sports Wagering as “free”, “cost free” or “free of risk” if the player needs to incur any loss or risk their own money to use or withdraw winnings from the Wager.”
Though Davis later apologized and clarified his position in a Tweet saying, During a segment this morning on @CollegeGameDay and @ESPNBet
picks hitting yesterday, I joked the advice was more like ‘risk free investing.’ As we all know, such a thing does not exist. Obviously, there are risks.”
Whether Massachusetts Gaming Commissioners think the same thing is a question that could have a very big impact on how ESPN broadcasters talk about sports betting.