During a Commission meeting held on Tuesday, Penn Deputy Chief Compliance Officer and Regulatory Affairs Counsel Samantha Haggerty said that the company was taking the step following previous discussions held by the MGC about how operators present their welcome offers.
At the meeting Haggerty said:
Penn Entertainment Tells Massachusetts Commission it Will Stop Using 'Risk Free' in Promotions and now Massachusetts warning potential license holders about how they present gambling promotions particularly for new account holders.“To further illustrate Penn and PI’s commitment to responsible gaming practices, Penn will not use the term ‘risk-free’ in any retail or online sports wagering marketing materials targeting the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In fact, to demonstrate our commitment to responsible advertising and gaming, and after hearing the concerns of the MGC and those of other jurisdictions where we operate, the term ‘risk-free’ has been removed from all Penn gambling marketing materials.”
Recent weeks have seen multiple issues arise from MGC meetings ahead of the launch of sports betting in Massachusetts. Last week, Caesars Entertainment agreed that it would no longer pursue agreements with educational institutions in the state. Meanwhile, the MGC delayed its issuance of a sports betting license to Plainridge Park Casino due to its association with Barstool founder Dave Portnoy.
