Massachusetts took one of many first legislative steps in direction of legalizing sports activities betting within the state because the House overwhelmingly handed a invoice that will enable it.
According to the State home News Service, the decrease department of the legislature passed H 3977 by a whopping 156-3 margin. The invoice would enable each retail and on-line sports activities betting for these older than 21 and bodily current within the state of Massachusetts.
Reps. Mike Connolly, Russell Holmes and Erika Uyterhoeven have been the one three members to solid a vote towards the proposal. All three are members of the Democratic Party.
The laws would put sports activities betting below the regulatory oversight of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. It would additionally grant sports activities betting licenses to MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbord, Plainridge Park Casino, in addition to the 2 simulcasting services in order that these properties could be allowed to simply accept wagers.
Any area that hosts dwell horse racing would even be given a sports activities betting license, however Plainridge Park is at present the one property with dwell horse races.
On the cell entrance, the proposal would enable for between one and three on-line sportsbooks. Mobile operators must apply for a license. All licenses, whether or not given to a brick-and-mortar or an internet sportsbook would value $5 million. Retail sportsbooks could be taxed on 12.5% of whole income, whereas on-line books would take a 15% hit.
Rep. Jerald Parisella, who’s the chairman of the Committee on Economic Development believes that these rules would generate about $60 million in new annual tax income.
The invoice will transfer to the Senate, the place the higher chamber is already working by itself model of sports activities betting laws. The Senate invoice would have slight regulatory variations, like whether or not to permit betting on in-state collegiate sports activities. But each payments would enable for each in-person and on-line wagering.
Last 12 months, the House handed sports activities betting laws as a part of an financial growth bundle, however its Senate counterparts declined to do the identical.
Shortly after that, nonetheless, Gov. Charlie Baker got here out in favor of it and stated that sports activities betting would assist the state get better from the recession introduced on by the COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns. Baker really filed his personal sports activities betting proposal, H 70, and has made it clear he’ll signal no matter makes it to his desk.
With each chambers of the legislature engaged on proposals, it’s probably the ultimate product could be a compromise of the 2 payments. If sports activities betting is legalized by the tip of the 12 months, it’s doable that these in Massachusetts may start wagering in 2022.
