Massachusetts Launches ‘Safer Bets Start Here’ Campaign to Combat Illegal Gambling During World Cup

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has launched a public awareness campaign aimed at steering residents toward regulated gaming options and away from illegal gambling platforms, with the rollout timed to coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup and its expected surge in wagering interest.

The campaign, called “Safer Bets Start Here,” runs across multiple digital and broadcast platforms and is designed to inform the public about which gaming options are legally available in Massachusetts while warning about the risks of engaging with unlicensed operators.

What Prompted the Campaign

Massachusetts legalized sports wagering at casinos and through regulated online operators in early 2023, and a mature market with three retail and seven licensed online operators has developed since. Despite the regulated market’s growth, the Commission said illegal gambling operators continue to masquerade as permissible platforms, creating confusion among consumers.

The Commission specifically cited the rapid growth of prediction markets as a complicating factor. While federally regulated platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket operate legally, the Commission noted that some prediction market products have been marketed to people under 21 in ways that blur regulatory lines. The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General recently issued a separate Consumer Advisory on state-licensed gaming, listing what is legal and what is not.

“If you choose to gamble on the World Cup, make sure you know what you’re betting on,” the Commission posted on social media at the campaign’s launch. The campaign also continues to roll out PlayWell, the Commission’s responsible gaming and player health program launched in March 2026, which is available at the state’s three casinos, online at PlayWell.org, and over the phone.

Why the World Cup Creates Unique Risk

Major global tournaments like the World Cup historically drive spikes in offshore and illegal gambling activity, as casual bettors who don’t typically wager search for places to put action on matches. Illegal operators often aggressively advertise during high-profile sporting events, taking advantage of consumers who may not know the difference between a licensed platform and an unregulated one.

Massachusetts bettors can find a list of authorized platforms at MassGaming.com, and all legal online operators are required to display the Commission’s seal of approval on their platforms. For bettors looking to compare licensed options, the state’s top online sportsbooks in Massachusetts include major national operators with robust consumer protections, transparent odds, and regulated withdrawal processes. Those interested in prediction-style markets can explore legal prediction market platforms operating under federal oversight, while sports bettors can find current sportsbook promotions tied to World Cup action.

The Commission’s push reflects a growing recognition among state regulators that the proliferation of new gambling formats — prediction markets, social sportsbooks, sweepstakes casinos — has made consumer education more important than ever. Clearly delineating what is legal and what is not, particularly during high-traffic sporting events, is increasingly seen as a core regulatory function.