New Bill Filed For Legal Sports Betting In Massachusetts
- A new Senate bill has been filed to bring legal Massachusetts sports betting to the state.
- The bill is backed by Senator Brandon Crighton.
- Should this bill pass, sports betting will be one step closer to launching in the Bay State.
BOSTON – Legal sports betting in Massachusetts may become a reality in 2021 if a newly filed bill, backed by Senator Brandon Crighton, is passed by the State Legislature.
Massachusetts has consistently failed to pass any regulation that would legalize sports betting in the past, but this new bill may finally make things happen.
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing major losses in revenue for states in 2020, legislators seem to be more open to launching legal sports betting in an effort to make up for the losses.
Sports Betting In Massachusetts
Local gamblers in Massachusetts could be finally able to wager on the New England Patriots at local sportsbooks should the new bill past.
The bill, Senate Bill 177 has been filed and is awaiting legislative approval. The bill has been backed by Senator Crighton, and there is a lot of optimism surrounding this bill. MA would be motivated by the added revenue boost from legal sports betting.
The Bay State was hit hard by the shutdowns, as tourism and local businesses are a major force for the local economy. The shutdowns caused millions in losses and the fallout could potentially affect the budget for some time.
With sports betting, a new revenue source would come and allow MA to offset some of the losses. The bill comes with a mandatory $10 million fee for all operations who wish to launch in the state, as well as a 15% tax on all revenue for sports betting.
Many of the neighboring states like Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and New York already have legal sports betting markets. Comparing these states' sports betting markets can indicate what sports betting in the Bay State would look like.
Many Massachusetts bettors cross state lines to bet on sports in other states. With local sports betting, all that revenue will stay in the state and allow for a steady stream of revenue.
The bill still has to await regulatory approval at a later legislative session. Following this, if approved, the next phase will be a vote on the details of sports betting.
Should all go well, Massachusetts could be adding sports betting to its list of legal gambling.