Massachusetts Eyes AI in Sportsbooks. A NYT Exposé Started It. Regulators Arrive Late, As Usual.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will evaluate sportsbooks' AI practices after a New York Times report alleged DraftKings used AI to target losing gamblers. The MGC's AI task force, led by Serpa, stems from a November study that identified a governance gap between technological advancements and existing regulatory guidelines. Maynard confirmed the commission is monitoring AI and machine learning use by operators as these technologies evolve rapidly.
This story illustrates regulatory lag, the persistent gap between technological deployment and oversight. The mechanism is straightforward: commercial AI systems optimize for revenue, not player welfare, and regulators must scramble to catch up. The lesson for everyday consumers is that any AI system interacting with you commercially is likely profiling you in ways no regulator has yet examined.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, with Maynard addressing the commission and Serpa leading the AI task force created after the November AI and Player Risk Identification and Response study. DraftKings is the operator named in the NYT report.
- Visit any gambling or betting app you use and look for its privacy policy or responsible gaming section. Search for any mention of artificial intelligence, machine learning, or personalization. The expected outcome is you will likely find vague language or nothing at all.
- Go to covers.com and read the original reporting on this Massachusetts investigation. The expected outcome is you will understand how AI targeting of vulnerable users works in practice.
- Search your own state's gaming commission website for any AI or player protection policies. The expected outcome is you will discover whether your jurisdiction has closed the governance gap or left it wide open.