Massachusetts House endorses sports betting legislation, Senate poised to address matter next.
Spicing up the Mass Gambling Scene: Sports Betting Bill Passes!
The Massachusetts House has set the stage for an exhilarating twist in the local gambling scene after successfully passing a wide-reaching economic development bill - dubbed the 'Blueprint for a Booming Bay State.' This bill, which passed 156-3, includes provisions for legal sports betting, following two days of heated debate over 499 proposed amendments.
This bill, with its extensive reach, covers various sectors within Massachusetts - from meat-packing to the New England Aquarium and everything in between. However, its implication for the gaming sector, particularly sports betting, is by far the most intriguing.
The current Senate version of an economic development bill, S 2832, doesn't currently include sports betting provisions. But, as reported by MassLive, Senator Brendan Crighton, a fervent supporter of sports betting, plans to file a sports betting amendment before Friday, when the formal legislative session comes to a close.
The success of this bill raises several questions among stakeholders - will Massachusetts manage to push the sports betting bill through the Senate and make it to the finish line before the session ends this week? Or will the legalization of sports betting have to wait until the fall? Crighton acknowledges the challenge but remains optimistic, saying, "We keep fighting for it. A year ago when we were having these discussions, we weren't talking about the need for revenue, but every little bit helps."
Multi-Platform Expansion
Should Massachusetts legalize, it could become the latest New England state to join the sports betting frenzy, following Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Yet, unlike these two states that offer only one sportsbook option for online/mobile sports betting, the latest version of the Massachusetts bill is poised to offer more diversity.
The proposed legislation, H 4887, was amended on Monday to allow for not one but two additional Category 3 sports betting licenses. These licenses will be offered to digital entities that have been permitted to offer sports wagering in at least two other U.S. states for over a year. This move feels like an invitation to industry giants like DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, and Circa Sports.
In essence, the bill seeks to produce a more competitive market, breaking away from the monopolistic tendencies seen in Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Tightening the net on College Sports
Another notable change in the bill concerns college sports betting. While the original version of the bill would have allowed for betting on all college sports, the amendment now limits this to Division I college sports only. This move seems to be an attempt to clarify the language within the bill, following the text of a previous bill filed in March that didn't gain significant traction.
The bill also introduces a second helpline for problem gaming and extends the powers of the gaming commission to allow for broad interpretation and enforcement of the new laws.
Stay tuned as this exciting developments unfold in the Massachusetts sports betting market. This shakeup could pave the way for a more vibrant and competitive sports betting scene in the Bay State.
- The passage of the Massachusetts economic development bill has opened up opportunities for sports betting, making way for a potential boom in the local sports betting market.
- Unlike Rhode Island and New Hampshire, the latest version of the Massachusetts bill is set to offer more diversity in the sports betting landscape, with provisions for additional Category 3 sports betting licenses for digital entities.
- The bill, with its amendments, now limits college sports betting to Division I College Sports only, seeming to be an attempt to clarify the language within the bill.
- The success of Massachusetts sports betting legalization could have significant implications for the gaming industry, with major players like DraftKings, FanDuel, PointsBet, and Circa Sports potentially entering the Massachusetts market.
