A News Service survey conducted among Massachusetts senators has shown that at least 60% of them are in favor of legalized sports wagering in the state. The survey revealed that no senator was outright opposed to legalized sports betting.
Out of the 40 senators polled, 24 were in favor of legalization. Eight were noncommittal, undecided or did not wish to comment, and 12 senators did not provide a response to the question.
Governor Charlie Baker said legalized sports wagering in Massachusetts is inevitable. He had filed a bill four years ago based on New Jersey’s guidelines.
“And for people in Massachusetts – literally many do – to just drive over the border, to be able to participate in something that is another form of entertainment, I think is unfortunate,” Baker said.
The House passed H3993 by a vote of 156 to 3 last July. Since last summer, the approved sports betting bill has remained lodged in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The bill arrived there within the same week as another legalization proposal Senator Eric Lesser sponsored, which was approved by the Economic Development Committee.
Speaker Ron Mariano said that he is frustrated because of the Senate’s “stubborn reluctance to take the bill up.”
Senate President Karen Spilka said: “You know, some want to do it, some are uncertain they want to do it. But we will be taking a look at it with the senators.”
Spilka did not respond to the survey but is noncommittal on the issue of sports betting. She said she would like to see “some sort of consensus” among senators before legalization moves forward.
