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Massachusetts Regulator Fines PENN $15K for Rece Davis’ 'Risk-Free Investment' On-Air Quip
 has fined PENN Sports Interactive $15,000 for ESPN host Rece Davis’ comments made during a gambling segment on “College GameDay” in 2024.</p><p>Davis referred to a betting pick shared by analyst Erin Dolan as so intelligent, it wasn’t gambling, but rather it was a “risk-free investment.”</p><h2>Key Takeaways</h2><ul><li>The comment was made regarding the under in a March Madness matchup.<br><br></li><li>Davis said the next day he was not going to apologize for his comment.<br><br></li><li>The regulator said it did not appreciate Davis’ or PENN’s response.</li></ul><p>An adjudicatory hearing for PENN in April saw the Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) <a href="https://www.covers.com/industry/espn-bet-risk-free-sports-betting-joke-clarification-march-2024">declare Davis’ comments a violation</a> of <a href="https://www.covers.com/betting/usa/massachusetts">Massachusetts sports betting</a> laws and ESPN BET’s guidance policy, which bans terms such as “free,” “risk-free,” and “can’t lose.”</p><blockquote><p>“Mr. Davis used the prohibited language ‘risk free investment’ after he referred to a sports wager,” the MGC <a href="https://massgaming.com/wp-content/uploads/PSI-Non-Compliance-Decision-10.8.25.pdf" target="_blank">wrote in its decision</a> Wednesday. “As a result of the aforementioned regulatory violations, the Commission hereby fines PSI d/b/a ESPNBet $15,000.”</p></blockquote><p>The quip was made on March 24, 2024, just over half of a year after ESPN partnered with PENN Entertainment to launch ESPN BET.</p><p>Davis and Dolan were discussing an upcoming March Madness matchup between UConn and Northwestern. Dolan, who was said to have given out winning picks the day before, suggested Northwestern under 60.5 total team points, which ended up cashing.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I can picture the Massachusetts Gaming Commission meeting already <a href="https://t.co/bUKtugSnRu">https://t.co/bUKtugSnRu</a></p>
— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeoffZochodne/status/1771964946294669395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2024</a></blockquote><p></p><p>Davis clarified later that day on X that his comments were made jokingly, not seriously.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">During a segment this morning on <a href="https://twitter.com/CollegeGameDay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CollegeGameDay</a>,due to <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNBET?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNBet</a> picks hitting yesterday, I joked the advice was more like “risk free investing.” As we all know, such a thing does not exist. Obviously, there are risks. Though I’m not a gambler, I strongly encourage those who do</p>
— Rece Davis (@ReceDavis) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReceDavis/status/1771975905235333595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2024</a></blockquote><p></p><p>“Though I’m not a gambler, I strongly encourage those who do partake, do so with prudence, care, caution, fiscal and personal responsibility and never over-extend. Sports are unpredictable,” Davis added. “Wagering is tricky. So let’s agree to manage monetary risks appropriately. I’m sure most recognized my comment was tongue-in-cheek. Just to clarify.”</p><h2>Davis refused to apologize</h2><p>One day after the incident occurred, Davis appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN to clarify that he did not apologize for his usage of the term “risk-free.” </p><p>“I don’t think anybody thought we were really handing out free money, but maybe it’s a better course of action in the future to go with the old David Letterman and say this is an exhibition, not a competition, so please no wagering,” Davis said.</p><p>The MGC justified the $15,000, which is below others it has doled out to other operators, based on the circumstances of the infraction.</p><p>The commission said that Davis was only an ESPN on-air employee, and the risk-free messaging was not used in the app. It also noted that Davis made the comments on his own volition, and PENN Sports self-reported the incident.</p><p>However, it also noted that it did not feel the incident received the appropriate response from Davis or from PENN Sports.</p><p>“There was no meaningful follow-up beyond internal discussions about the incident and Mr. Davis’ public remarks were made of his own volition, as characterized by [Penn Sports] Attorney [Chris] Soriano,” the MGC wrote. “The Commission is particularly concerned by the lack of a prompt, clear public correction and expects that any future incidents will be met with a definitive public statement affirming that ‘risk-free’ language is prohibited under both regulatory and internal content standards.”</p><h2>Noticing a trend</h2><p>While Davis has not committed any infractions since the incident in 2024, that was not the first time he’d described betting as “risk-free.”</p><p>While commenting on an X (Twitter) post that stated a college football player at the University of Iowa illegally bet the under on his own game, Davis said that it was “less gambling and more risk-free investing.”</p><p>ESPN BET is live in 19 states and Washington D.C. It launched in Massachusetts on Nov. 14, 2023, as part of a simultaneous launch in multiple states. </p><p>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.covers.com/">Covers.com</a>, read the full article <a href="https://www.covers.com/industry/massachusetts-regulator-fines-penn-for-rece-davis-risk-free-investment-quip-oct-9-2025">here</a></p>)
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Ben Johnson on what Kyler Gordon's return means for Bears
![](/<p>The <a href="https://bearswire.usatoday.com">Chicago Bears</a> are coming off a bye week ahead of a prime-time showdown against the <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/nfl/teams/washington-commanders/363" target="_blank">Washington Commanders</a>, where some key injured starters could be making their return to the field.</p><p>That includes cornerback Kyler Gordon, who missed the first four games due to a lingering hamstring injury suffered back during training camp. Gordon was one of several notable cornerbacks on the injury list, also including Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson (out for most of the season) and Terell Smith (out for the season).</p><p>Gordon told reporters that he will in fact be making his season debut on Monday night against the Commanders, although we'll have to wait for the injury report for confirmation. But Gordon's return would be massive for this <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/nfl/teams/chicago-bears/326" target="_blank">Bears</a> defense, especially as Gordon is one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL.</p><p>Head coach Ben Johnson, who's watched Gordon from an opposing sideline, discussed the impact of Gordon's impending return, and he believes Gordon could be the key to unlocking the defense.</p><p>"Shoot, hopefully it allows us to unlock a few things on defense," Johnson shared. "He's one of the bigger playmakers. I've got a lot of experience being on the opposing sideline from him and [have] a ton of respect of how he can impact a game. There's only a handful of nickels in this league that you really have to account for, both as a coverage player but also as a guy who likes to be nosy in the run game, and could be part of the solution for us here in shoring up our run game as well.</p><p>"He's got those natural football instincts that are really hard to coach and hard to teach, and when you have enough players like that, that's where you really take off in a hurry."</p><p>When Dennis Allen was hired as defensive coordinator, he specifically mentioned Gordon and hinted at using him all over the field. We've yet to get a glimpse of that, but it sounds like that's about to change.</p><p>Gordon's return would come at the perfect time when the Bears face a Commanders offense that's among the best rushing attacks in the league and has a number of playmakers for quarterback Jayden Daniels. Gordon is a complete cornerback with the ability to cover, blitz and support in run defense, and his return could be key to extending Chicago's winning streak to three games.</p><p><em>Follow Bears Wire on <a href="https://x.com/TheBearsWire" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheBearsWire/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></em> <em>and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bearswireusat" target="_blank">Instagram</a></em></p><p><em>This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: <a href="https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2025/10/09/bears-ben-johnson-on-kyler-gordon-impact-return/86598462007/">Bears HC Ben Johnson on Kyler Gordon's impact in potential return</a></em></p>)
Buffalo Bills at Atlanta Falcons: 5 storylines to watch for during lead up to Week 6
