ESPN Bet and PENN Entertainment may face consequences in Massachusetts due to poorly phrased remarks from Rece Davis during College GameDay last year. He described betting analyst Erin Dolan’s NCAA tournament pick as a “risk-free investment,” which raised eyebrows.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) conducted a hearing this week regarding Davis’s comments made in March 2024. If the MGC rules against ESPN Bet and PENN, they could face fines or even lose their sports betting license.
Despite Davis attempting to clarify his remarks on The Pat McAfee Show, the MGC expressed concern over his assertion that viewers wouldn’t genuinely believe Dolan’s pick was “risk-free.” Commissioner Eileen O’Brien emphasized the need to consider the “reasonable person” standard, noting the disparity between those familiar with the betting industry and those who are not.
However, the MGC commissioner acknowledged ESPN for self-reporting and promptly advising Davis against similar comments, describing the network’s response as the “best you can do in the circumstances” during a live broadcast. The MGC chair also commended ESPN for its “swift action.” In deliberating this case, the MGC may reference a previous incident involving Dan “Big Cat” Katz from Barstool Sports, where the MGC urged the removal of a parlay named “Can’t Lose Parlay” from the Barstool Sportsbook app in 2023.
Massachusetts is one of 22 states where ESPN Bet operates through a partnership between PENN and Disney. Should ESPN have self-reported Davis’ infraction to the MGC, it likely extended this action to all states where it conducts business. These hearings serve as preliminary steps to assess whether Davis’ comments warrant severing ties with the operator.
