Delaware North's push raises questions on if Jacobs has a conflict of interest as a team ownerGETTY IMAGES
Delaware North Chair and Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs "wants to offer sports betting in Massachusetts, should state lawmakers legalize it," according to Matt Stout of the BOSTON GLOBE. Delaware North's interest "injects a major player into the still-simmering debate over whether and how the state should allow betting." It also "immediately sparked questions about whether Jacobs’s involvement as a professional team owner ... would pose a conflict in the emerging industry." TD Garden President Amy Latimer yesterday told the state Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies that company officials "already operate nine casinos and betting facilities in seven states and 'know the product and the fans.'” But whether the state "would allow the entrance of a figure such as Jacobs ... remains to be seen." State Rep. Kenneth Gordon said that he "wants Delaware North officials to further explain how they would avoid a potential conflict" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/30). In Boston, Jonathan Ng notes lawmakers yesterday "raised concerns of a conflict of interest." State Sen. Eric Lesser said, "So if I buy a ticket and I go into the Garden and I'm watching the Bruins and I'm operating a sports betting app from my phone, what you're asking for is to be able to own all three." Ng notes hours after Latimer's testimony and "grilling from lawmakers, Delaware North said it will simply want to partner with another company to make sports betting available to its customers" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/30).
