Massachusetts Gaming Commission Seeks Notice for Oddball Bets

Tyson-Paul Bout Sparks Betting Questions

The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight on November 15, 2024, turned heads in Massachusetts, not just for its 31-year age gap but for its weird rules. Tyson, 58, faced 27-year-old Paul in a Texas-sanctioned bout with eight two-minute rounds instead of 12 three-minute ones, plus 14-ounce gloves over the usual 10-ounce.

A query to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission about betting on this odd event prompted a response. “A heads-up would’ve been nice,” said Chair Jordan Maynard, per the Boston Herald, as the fight’s quirks raised wagering oversight concerns.

With 65 million households streaming the fight on Netflix and 105 million watching live, the Tyson-Paul clash was a betting bonanza. Though fully sanctioned, its non-standard setup worried regulators about wagering integrity. Sports Wagering Compliance Manager Andrew Steffen pitched ways to handle such events.

Commissioner Brad Hill suggested a light-touch fix: sportsbooks should notify the commission before offering bets on unusual events. “It stops any funny business,” Hill said, per the Boston Herald, satisfied with the outcome but eager for better process.

Commissioners Want No Surprises

Commissioner Eileen O’Brien was irked that a random call flagged the issue. “Someone asked, ‘What are you doing?’” she said, insisting regulators shouldn’t be caught off guard.

O’Brien and Hill agreed pre-event notifications would help without needing new rules. Maynard stressed sportsbooks should alert them to “a crazy one” like Tyson-Paul.

Paul won by decision after eight rounds, but the fight’s massive betting draw, fueled by its global viewership, showed why the commission wants to stay proactive.

The commission’s push for advance notice aims to keep betting clean as sportsbooks eye quirky events. The Tyson-Paul fight, despite its legitimacy, exposed how non-standard rules can slip under the radar.

Hill’s call for “pre-event notification” offers a simple way to boost oversight, per the report. With no rule changes on the table, Massachusetts regulators hope to avoid future surprises in the betting scene.