DraftKings urged the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) to push back launch dates for online and in-person sports betting so all operators can begin at the same time. Earlier this year, FanDuel expressed the same sentiment, something called a universal launch date.
The MGC approved a January date for in-person wagering and a March date for online wagering. The agency might discuss the DraftKings proposal but there was almost no chance for a change in the timeline they already said yes to.
At a hearing in September, DraftKings Senior Director of Legal and Government Affairs Chris Cipolla said it’s important for all operators to have the opportunity to launch on day one.
“We found that in other jurisdictions that has worked and made sense and it ensures that nobody obtains a competitive advantage, an unfair competitive advantage when a new market opens,” Cipolla told MassLive. “… We do feel what’s most important is giving everybody a fair shot to launch, retail, mobile, untethered, tethered.”
At a minimum, all mobile sports wagering operators should start on the same day, said Cory Fox, vice president for product and new market compliance at FanDuel.
Otherwise the early approvals bestow a huge advantage not so easy to overcome. In Pennsylvania, FanDuel debuted three months before DraftKings. In Indiana, DraftKings went first. Both operators enjoy financial advantages to this day.
“Use of a universal start date ensures fairness for all operators to compete on the quality of their product offering. Use of a universal start date also removes undue pressure on the commission staff to make decisions and issue approvals,” Fox said.
