It is a busy time for Massachusetts’ State Government, with Beacon Hill officials bringing a swath of legislation to Governor Charlie Baker’s desk before the end of formal sessions next week. The fate of the sports betting bill, which once seemed to be certain, is now far from a sure bet.
Baker previously urged lawmakers to advance sports betting legislation while lamenting missed opportunities including the Super Bowl. However, on Thursday he seemed far more ambivalent about the trajectory of the bill.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill last summer that laid the way for sports betting legalization, aligning the commonwealth with 30 other states, plus Washington DC.
Now, as the state’s legislative deadline looms, Baker said he’s certain other pieces of legislation will be approved before the July 31 end-of-session deadline. But with sports betting, Baker told Boston Public Radio hosts: “It’s very hard for me to draw a conclusion.”
Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano struck a similarly pessimistic tone, saying: “Realistically, I don’t know. I don’t know. We’re far apart.”
The main hold up seems to be collegiate sports betting, with the Quincy Democrats warning of an unregulated black market if Bay Staters are unable to access regulated sports betting operators and digital platforms.
The state does not allow collegiate sports betting, in an omission Mariano has repeatedly called a ‘deal-breaker.’
Mariano said: “I don’t understand, if you’re going to do sports betting, why would you leave out Final Four bowl games and the whole college football season?”
Senate President Karen Spilka provided an olive branch of hope to Bay State bettors among the negativity. She told reporters she remained ‘hopeful’ that sports betting negotiators could reach a compromise on time.
