GAMBLING

Rumors about a sale of the MGM Springfield casino began to circulate last year.

We visit the solo exhibition, "Black Hands: Black Earth," learn about the history of gambling in Massachusetts and McGovern with Rep. Jim McGovern.

UMass Amherst researchers say legal gambling has led to hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, but 90% of that comes from problem or at risk gamblers.

State-funded research out of UMass Amherst found that problem gambling among monthly gamblers went up from 12% in 2014 to 25% in 2023.

The MGM Springfield casino was fined more than $47,000 by regulators Thursday for accepting wagers on two college basketball games involving Massachusetts teams.

Prodded into action by Massachusetts bettors who said their wagering was limited by sports betting companies after cashing regular wins, gambling regulators planned to convene a roundtable discussion on the topic. But all 10 of the sports betting companies balked, telling the Gaming Commission they did not want to talk about the controversial topic in a public meeting.

Last month, Bloomberg reported MGM was looking to put the casino on the market, although the company did not comment on the rumors.

A UMass Amherst researcher presented new findings on gambling behavior this week to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The state's 2011 casino legislation mandates such research.

Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg reported Wednesday that MGM was in the early stages of looking into selling off the facility, but also said it was possible no sale would take place.

State gaming regulators tapped Gov. Charlie Baker's former deputy chief of staff for operations and administration to serve as the next executive director of the Mass. Gaming Commission.