The Precedent Is Set: Death Can Void Sportsbook Future Bets

• A Massachusetts widow successfully petitioned DraftKings and regulators to void her late husband’s $106,100 in NBA futures bets.
• The wagers, all placed on the Boston Celtics to win in 2025, were refunded in a first-of-its-kind decision by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
• Regulators cited a compassionate clause in gaming rules, setting precedent for posthumous refunds in legal sports betting.
• While seen as an act of empathy, the decision raises complex questions around fairness, account use, and the future of betting policy.

BOSTON – When a Massachusetts bettor died after placing over $100,000 in NBA futures with DraftKings this season, his widow stepped in, requesting that the bets be voided and the money returned to the estate.

The NBA betting action – all on the Boston Celtics to win the 2025 NBA Finals and Eastern Conference – totaled $106,100.

DraftKings took the unusual step of bringing the request to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), citing regulation 205 CMR 238.35(2), which allows for voided wagers under certain circumstances. Last Thursday, the MGC unanimously approved the voiding 5-0, setting a new precedent: death, under compassionate review, can justify refunding futures bets.

Moving Forward

This move highlights a gray area in legal sports betting operations. Unlike day-to-day bets, futures often lock bettors into positions with no flexibility, unless a cash out option is presented.

Some social media posts explained the widow was sitting +EV (having better odds now than when the bets were made). However, others expressed how she would be potentially breaking DraftKings’ terms and conditions by using a legal online sportsbook account that wasn’t hers.

Either way, there’s been little precedent for posthumous refunds, where sportsbook policies around death remain largely undefined. The decision may force the industry to reckon with this gap.

While the move was framed as a one-off act of empathy, it introduces questions about fairness, integrity, and policy consistency. If death becomes a legitimate reason to void a future bet, regulators and operators alike may need to establish clearer protocols, especially as similar requests surface… or ones that are negative EV (unlike these bets on the Celtics).

For now, the line has been drawn for Massachusetts sports betting, but whether it holds or invites copycat cases remains to be seen.

We wish the widow peace and healing during this difficult time. We’re glad she was able to recover the funds and that compassion played a role in the decision. Our best wishes go out to her and her family as they move forward and navigate what comes next.

News tags: Boston Celtics | DraftKings | Massachusetts | Massachusetts Gaming Commission | NBA