Massachusetts Senate to discuss sports betting bill this week

The senate bill still has marked differences from the proposal by the House of Representatives.

The Massachusetts state Senate is set to discuss the legalization of sports betting this week, as it convenes to debate its version of the bill. 

This follows the advancement of the legislation by the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Friday. If approved, this bill is expected to produce around $35m in annual revenue for the state. 

“I am pleased to see the committee has come to an agreement on a strong proposal and I look forward to discussing it with my colleagues next week,” noted Karen Spilka, Senate President, in a statement on Friday.

While this progression is positive, the legalization of this bill may not be smooth sailing. The current proposition by the senate differs in a number of key areas from the bull approved last year by the state’s House of Representatives. Centrally, the senate wishes to see a ban enforced on wagers placed regarding collegiate sports. 

This ban is supported by officials at Boston College, Harvard University, Boston University and the University of Massuch

If approved, the market in Massachusetts would be a licensed-based one, with operators appealing to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to launch an offering in the state. 

Moreover, citing concerns around problem gambling, the senate bill calls for a prohibition on using credit cards to place bets. 

Meanwhile, the house bill, which was first passed in July, offers provisions on betting limits, but no specifics regarding college betting. 

Sports betting in the Bay State has been long in the making and a number of politicians have recently criticized this slow pace. 

Henry Moore

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