Massachusetts Sports activities Betting Debate Will get Feisty, Home Scolds Senate
Massachusetts is likely one of the most sports-obsessed states within the nation. However the Boston devoted nonetheless can’t legally place a wager inside their residence state.
Fenway Park, residence of the Boston Purple Sox. Whereas MLB baseball is in jeopardy for the 2022 season due to no collective bargaining settlement in place between house owners and gamers, the percentages of Massachusetts sports activities betting changing into legalized this 12 months are good. (Picture: The Boston Globe)
Some 31 states plus DC have handed legal guidelines to control sports activities betting. 4 straight neighbor Massachusetts — New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
Home members are uninterested in ready for the Senate to behave. Home Speaker Ronald Mariano (D-Norfolk) final week labeled the higher chamber “cussed.”
State Sen. Michael Rodrigues (D-Bristol) chairs the Massachusetts Senate Methods and Means Committee, which possesses the Home’s accepted sports activities betting invoice. In response to Mariano and others’ criticism, Rodrigues informed the State Home Information Service this week that she’s “fantastic” with the invoice, however is awaiting enter from trade stakeholders earlier than transferring the laws ahead.
2022 Motion
The sports activities betting statute handed by the Massachusetts Home final 12 months — Home Invoice 3977 — gained 156 votes in assist, to solely three in opposition. The invoice seeks to grant the state’s three casinos retail sportsbooks, plus permit every on line casino to associate with a third-party cell operator like FanDuel. Cellular licenses would price $5 million every.
HB 3977 turns into a bit extra controversial with its language that claims state horse racetracks conducting stay racing would additionally qualify for in-person sportsbooks. Massachusetts is presently residence to solely a single stay horse racing venue — Plainridge Park, the place the state’s slots-only on line casino is positioned. Reside racing not happens at Suffolk Downs or the Brockton Honest.
“We’re actively engaged in discussions and conferences with all of the principals. It’s very difficult,” Rodrigues mentioned of her committee’s progress relating to the sports activities betting invoice.
“It’s very broad. We’re processing it,” Rodrigues added.
Consensus Wanted
State Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Middlesex) additionally weighed in on the sports activities betting dilemma. She mentioned senators are “everywhere” in the case of the expanded gaming concern.
Spilka said that “some kind of consensus” is required earlier than sports activities betting ought to be voted on.
HB 3977 proposes a 12.5 % tax on sports activities betting gross gaming income generated in-person and 15 % from on-line wagering. Some senators say the tax is simply too low.
State Sen. Eric Lesser (D-Hampden) is a proponent of legalizing sports activities betting. He launched Senate Invoice 269 final 12 months to authorize playing on sports activities — however solely on skilled video games, not school. His statute additionally sought a better sports activities betting GGR tax within the neighborhood of 20-25 %.
Lesser’s invoice — like HB 3977 — by no means made it out of a senate committee.
Connecticut, which shares essentially the most border miles with Massachusetts, launched authorized on-line sports activities betting and iGaming final October. Connecticut’s two tribal casinos — Mohegan Solar and Foxwoods — are respectively partnered with FanDuel and DraftKings.
