Responsible Education Month is Every Month
Jordan Maynard: I am lucky to be the chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, but I am even luckier to be the son and brother of amazing people who happen to suffer from addiction. I have felt the helplessness that all too many family members feel watching those they love struggle to stay healthy.
Mark Vander Linden: For over 30 years, I’ve built my career as a social worker, serving people struggling with mental health and addiction and guiding research to better understand it. For 19 years, I have been focused specifically on public health strategies to treat and prevent gambling addiction, leading me to serve as the MGC’s drector of research and responsible gaming.
These experiences guide our joint work along with our colleagues and fellow commissioners at the MGC. Together, we work to fulfill the commission’s mission to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative impacts of legalized gambling in Massachusetts. Through data-driven and evidence-informed responsible gaming measures, our aim is to be a frontline defense against problem gambling.
Undoubtedly, our work in this area wouldn’t be possible without the creation of a Public Health Trust Fund. When casino gambling and sports wagering were legalized in Massachusetts, it was anticipated that the new gaming sector would bring an influx of tax revenue. As prescribed by law, a certain percentage of this revenue is dedicated to the Public Health Trust Fund, which supports player health efforts, responsible gaming programs, and funds the commission’s annual research agenda.
Recent research has shown that since the launch of sports wagering in the Commonwealth, rates of problem gambling, as well as the intensity of gambling among monthly gamblers, have been on the rise. A new demographic at risk of experiencing harm is also emerging—they tend to be younger, white, and more well-educated
The findings of the commission’s research must provide an independent examination of current trends in gaming. Commissioners, staff, and stakeholders need unbiased information to develop targeted strategies to prevent further harm and enact effective regulations.
There is no single solution or easy answer that will prevent problem gambling, but working across government and with industry stakeholders, we aim to meet patrons where they are, providing them with the right information at the right time.
For many, this means offering a product where they can wager recreationally with clearly established rules. For others, this means offering innovative technology solutions such as BetBlocker to restrict gambling applications and websites on devices. For everyone, this means providing tools to manage their gambling, such as budget, time, and loss limit tools. Utilizing play management tools should be as common as putting on a seatbelt before driving, and operators can help by promoting these tools prominently on their platforms and ensuring that responsible gaming is a fully integrated part of the gaming experience.
The changing gambling landscape in the Commonwealth has offered new opportunities for increased collaboration. We are proud of our work with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office to launch the Youth Sports Wagering Safety Coalition to prioritize youth safety and education related to gambling. The legalization of sports wagering has led to increased exposure of gambling through advertisements, television broadcasts of sporting events, and other forms of media. This coalition of government, industry, professional sports leagues, the NCAA, and youth sports organizations was established with an understanding that young people will be exposed to gambling content, so they must also be exposed to the risks associated with gambling. The curriculum released by this coalition will be accessible to educate and inform, and will expand over time.
The commission’s mandate is to regulate casino gaming, horse racing, and sports wagering, and its mission is to do so with integrity, transparency, and a deeply held belief that benefits to the Commonwealth can’t be fully captured unless we work to prevent gambling harms before they take hold.
As we recognize Responsible Gaming Education Month it is important to shine a light on these realities and efforts to better address issues facing this industry. It is also important to note that regardless of the month, responsible gaming and player health are essential. We also strive to continue listening and learn where we can have an impact. We are committed to a fair and healthy legal gambling sector in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and our library of research, which continues to grow, will support policies and regulations to ensure our continued shared success.
Jordan Maynard was named chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) by Governor Maura Healey on October 28, 2024. Before that, Maynard had served as interim chair of the MGC since March 2024, after he was first appointed in 2022. Since joining the commission, he has played a pivotal role in successfully rolling out sports wagering, enhancing consumer experiences, and continuing to support robust, responsible gaming initiatives focused on player health to protect all citizens in the Commonwealth. Maynard spearheads the MGC’s involvement in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Youth Sports Betting Safety Initiative, working with statewide partners to combat underage sports wagering while creating a curriculum to educate youth on the potential harms of unsafe gambling. In addition, he has made security at the brick-and-mortar properties in Massachusetts a top priority, working with the licensees on best practices and prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of patrons. Maynard is committed to creating regulations and policies that will enhance the economic benefit of gaming for the Commonwealth to benefit area residents, local businesses and employees. Leading with care and fidelity to the law, Maynard’s work has helped maintain the strong reputation of the MGC amongst its partners and licensees. Prior to joining the commission, Maynard served as chief secretary to the Governor from early 2021 until his commission appointment in 2022. He is a 2010 graduate of Morehead State University and a 2013 graduate of Northern Kentucky University’s Chase School of Law.
Since 2013 Mark Vander Linden has served as director of research and responsible gaming for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). In this role he manages an extensive research agenda to advance an understanding of responsible gaming, gambling disorders and the social and economic impacts of sports wagering and casino gambling in Massachusetts. Additionally, he works collaboratively with gaming operators, advocates, and other stakeholders on a range of initiatives to build a sustainable and socially responsible casino and sports wagering industry in the state. Prior to joining MGC, Vander Linden was the executive officer of the Office of Problem Gambling Treatment and Prevention with the Iowa Department of Public Health. Mark serves on the Board of Directors of the International Center for Responsible Gaming. He received his Masters in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley.
