The highly publicized prize fight between former heavyweight king Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will continue to be allowed on Bay State’s sportsbooks‘ betting menus.
Place Your Bets
The Netflix boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will occur on November 15th, but a handful of states are not allowing wagering on the event due to it being a quasi-exhibition match. However, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) recently convened, and after the five commissioners listened to Sports Betting Compliance and Operations Manager Andrew Steffen discuss the match, no one made a motion to prohibit it as a betting event.
“We talk about the illegal market and what drives folks to the illegal market,” MGC chair Jordan Maynard said during Thursday’s public meeting. “I think if we did ban this, especially as it falls currently under our rules today as approved… we would only be potentially moving people in Massachusetts to the illegal market on this fight.”
Paul Favored Over Tyson
As of this writing, Caesars lists Jake Paul as a -280 favorite and Tyson as a +200 underdog.
The fight has drawn interest, as well as derision, from boxing fans all over the world. The fight will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and is sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a member of the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC).
The fact that this fight is within the aegis of the ABC makes a difference, at least in Massachusetts, because according to the Bay State’s sports betting regulations, ABC matches, including amateur bouts, are allowed to be offered on the state’s sports betting offerings.
Rule Changes Matter
Although the match is sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, there are a few rule changes that are uncommon but understandable considering the 31-year age gap between the two boxers:
- The eight rounds will be reduced from three to two minutes each.
- The gloves will be 14 oz versus the standard 10 oz gloves used in professional boxing matches.
This was important to at least three of the five Massachusetts commissioners who believe the rule changes make the bout safer. The regulators also reached out to a pair of integrity monitoring services to get their opinions on the event.
“Both entities stated in similar wording that it would be unlikely that there would be any betting-related corruption due to the significant public popularity, fight purses, and the multiple millions for both fighters,” Steffen told the commissioners. “After extensive research and connecting with other jurisdictions as well as those integrity entities, it is our recommendation to let this event stand as approved for wagering.”
Not in Our Ring
Although Massachusetts regulators have given the green light to the match, several other states have decided to nix the event from their sportsbook operators. Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont are among those that have chosen to prohibit wagering on the controversial fight.
“We just consider it an untraditional boxing event that’s more of an exhibition,’’ said Richard McGarvey, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. “We just said, ‘Not in Pennsylvania.'”
Brad Maione, director of communications of the New York State Gaming Commission, said wagering on the event will be banned in New York and won’t be allowed “as it’s an exhibition featuring a former professional fighter. The NYS Gaming Commission has discretion regarding whether specific sports events are eligible for wagering. Generally, exhibition events and those featuring non-professional athletes are not permitted.”
