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Sports activities betting in Massachusetts is not new,” Crighton stated Monday. “We’re leaving cash on the desk, and it may the black market and different states.”
Sen. Brendan Crighton, D-Lynn, said he plans to re-file a measure authorizing sports activities betting at racetracks and casinos and by cellular platforms equivalent to DraftKings whereas establishing a system to tax and regulate the trade, Latest News reports. The proposal is the most recent try and legalize sports activities betting in Massachusetts two years after a U.S. Supreme Courtroom courtroom ruling allowed states to supply wagering.
Below his plan, sports activities betting can be regulated by the state Gaming Fee and operators can be taxed at 15% for retail and on-line gross sales. Operators can be required to pay an software price of $10 million, which is up considerably from $1 million floated within the earlier plan.
The sooner proposal had been tied to a $692 million financial improvement invoice authorized by the Home and Senate in closing hours of the two-year session that wrapped up final week, nevertheless it did not make it into the ultimate model of the bundle.
Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, stated he is amongst these “upset” that the state hasn’t but legalized sports activities wagering.
“That is approach overdue,” stated Hill, who plans to re-file a sports activities wagering proposal within the Home. “We have had a number of years of debate on this, so there is no motive to not transfer forward.”
Hill stated the state is dropping out as residents guess on video games in locations the place spots wagers have been legalized, together with New Hampshire.
The hassle has broad help from legislative leaders and Gov. Charlie Baker, who filed his personal sports activities wagering proposals within the earlier session. Baker’s proposal, nevertheless, didn’t enable betting on school sports activities.
In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Courtroom struck down a federal regulation barring sports activities playing in almost all states besides Nevada, paving the best way for wagers on video games. The case concerned New Jersey, which fought for years to permit sports activities playing at casinos and racetracks.
Since then, a minimum of two dozen states together with Washington, D.C., have handed sports activities waging legal guidelines.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu says greater than $15.8 million has been wagered since sports activities betting turned authorized within the state final month.
Sununu boasted not too long ago on social media: “Regardless of our beloved New England @Patriots not making it to the Tremendous Bowl this yr, sports activities betting is BOOMING in NH!”
Greater than 6,000 folks signed up for sports activities betting when it launched on Dec. 30, with about $250,000 in wagers positioned within the first day, in keeping with the New Hampshire Lottery.
Lots of these bets have been positioned by Massachusetts residents, the lottery stated.
