MGC Targets Illegal Betting Risks Before FIFA World Cup
BOSTON – Massachusetts regulators have launched a campaign warning residents about illegal gambling sites ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said the effort is aimed at helping bettors identify legal operators and understand the risks of using unregulated platforms. The warning also puts fresh attention on sports-related prediction markets, which the commission said have included illegal sports wagers offered and marketed to people under 21.
The regulator’s Safer Bets Start Here campaign will run across multiple platforms during the World Cup period. It promotes legal gambling options in Massachusetts and directs residents toward PlayWell, the commission’s responsible gaming and player health program.
Massachusetts Targets Illegal Betting Ahead of World Cup
Massachusetts launched legal sports betting at casinos and through online operators in early 2023. The state now has three retail and seven online legal operators, according to the commission, giving bettors regulated options during major sports events.
The commission said illegal gambling operators continue to present themselves as lawful platforms despite operating outside the state’s licensing system. It told residents to look for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission seal of approval, which every legal online operator must display on its platform.
Commissioner Eileen O’Brien said legal operators must prioritize consumer protections and responsible gaming, use technology to prevent underage access, and protect customer data and funds. “Illegal operators put your data and funds at greater risk”, she said.
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Regulators Raise Concerns over Prediction Markets
The campaign also points to prediction markets as an area of concern for state officials. The commission said the rise of prediction markets has included illegal sports wagers that have been offered and marketed to people under 21, below the legal age for sports betting in Massachusetts.
That warning gives the campaign a sharper regulatory edge than a standard public education effort. It places illegal operators, age controls and sports-adjacent wagering products at the center of the state’s consumer protection message before one of the year’s largest global betting events.
Massachusetts officials also referenced a recent consumer advisory from the state Attorney General’s Office. That advisory outlines legal and soon-to-be legal forms of gambling in the state, including casino gaming, horse racing, sports wagering, fantasy contests, lottery products and iLottery.
PlayWell Expands Safer Gambling Support
The campaign also introduces more residents to PlayWell, which launched in March 2026. The program is available in person at the state’s three casinos, online through PlayWell.org and by phone.
PlayWell advisors are trained responsible gaming professionals who can help patrons understand rules and odds, set gambling budgets through PlayMyWay, sign up for voluntary self-exclusion or connect with clinical support services. Commissioner Nakisha Skinner said gambling always carries risk, but regulated operators reduce some of that risk because bets sit within the commission’s oversight structure.
The campaign is expected to continue during the World Cup period as Massachusetts regulators push residents toward licensed operators and safer gambling resources. For bettors, the main message is direct: check that a gambling site is legal before placing a wager, especially when major events bring more betting advertising into view.
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