Attorney General Maura Healey said in a recent radio interview that she is in favor of legalized sports betting in Massachusetts.
The question of whether the state should legalize sports betting has been on the table for several months. 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.
Healey had previously held an opposing view of legalized gambling. She had been opposed to casino gambling when she ran for Attorney General in 2014, due to concerns surrounding addiction and the impact gambling would have on the state.
“I was always concerned about addiction, gambling addiction. I was concerned about exploitation. I was concerned about protecting consumers so to speak, right?” Healey said. “It’s here, and my office has a team that investigates issues that are in our gaming establishments. I have an appointment to the gaming commission. So, it is here.”
Healey went on to add that she is sure the state government can come to a decision that reflects the changing times and rise in sports wagering occurring nationwide.
“Sports betting, it is the way now,” she said. “And I’m confident the legislature will work something out.”
Since the Supreme Court repealed PASPA in 2018, online gambling is currently available in 30 states, with 18 of those allowing for legal online sports wagering. According to the US Census Bureau, those jurisdictions represent more than 166.9 million people.
Four of the five states surrounding Massachusetts have also legalized sports wagering.
A recent 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. 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.
