• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, February 16, 2026

Worries about young people on social media are not the only age-related concerns affecting marketers. Another pertains to email. 

For instance, BetMGM is now being probed the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) for allegedly sending online betting promotions via email to people under age 21, in violation of state regulations.  

The issue came up during a meeting of the MGC last week, and was subsequently reported by World Casinos. 

In a discussion that was shown on YouTube, a BMC attorney reported that 96,457 emails were sent by BetMGM for its NLB Ballpark app, tied to Boston Red Sox games.

There is some question about the numbers, but 30,803 recipients were under the age of 21. State law prohibits the sending of gambling promotions to persons in that category. 

Moreover, BetMGM was unable to confirm age data on 37,632 of the email addresses. And 25 were in “cool-off” status with BeTMGM.

BetMGM appeared to acknowledge the incident, saying it was due to an individual employee not following internal protocols. 

Earlier in the meeting, a BetMGM official was praised by the group for the company’s efforts to reach out and help people who should avoid gambling. 

But a commissioner noted that “The facts are particularly egregious,” in this instance, and the group agreed that there should be an adjudicatory hearing.