Sen. Eric Lesser, running for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, described sports betting as a priority for the state and hinted he would push for legal wagering. The state lawmaker, who plans to be on the Democratic ticket, says the market should be legalized before the 2022 gubernatorial showdown.
Lesser, who declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor on Tuesday morning, lamented residents were not able to place wagers on the New England Patriots’ victory on Sunday. However, he expressed optimism that his sports betting legislation could gain traction in the coming months, according to Mass Live.
“My hope is that we can get that done long before the campaign,” Lesser said. “Keep in mind the election is 10, 11 months from now.”
When discussing the issue, Lesser said it was “time to do something” about sports betting, and declared its legalization a top-tier priority for his office. It is believed legal sports wagering could become a fixture in the lieutenant governor field, which also includes state Sen. Adam Hinds, state Rep. Tami Gouveia, and Babson College lecturer Bret Bero.
BIG NEWS! Earlier today I announced that I’m running for Lt. Governor of Massachusetts — I’m asking you to join our campaign at https://t.co/N4POjc5R9V pic.twitter.com/GsordcaxM7
— Eric Lesser (@EricLesser) January 4, 2022
“It’ll absolutely be something I talk about on the trail,” Lesser told the previously cited news source on Tuesday. It is believed legalization would allow the state to keep dollars gamblers are currently bringing to neighboring states where sports wagering is currently allowed.
Lesser (D-Hampden and Hampshire) is a long-time supporter of legal sports betting, and has been championing bills to authorize wagering since the US Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on the market in 2018.
While the state House almost unanimously passed a sports betting bill last year, the legislation wasn’t acted on in the Senate, amid a number of concerns. These include which entities should be allowed to participate, and differentiating college athletes from professional ones.
As the Massachusetts Legislature reconvened earlier this week, should a sports betting bill be brought to Gov. Baker’s desk, he is likely to sign it, as he expressed support for the measure in the past. “Massachusetts is losing out to many of our neighbors on this,” he said.
Great to see the @Patriots back!
We filed a bill in 2019 and again this year to legalize sports betting in MA – it’s time to act and get this done. MA is losing out to many of our neighbors on this one.
— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) September 12, 2021
Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park -the state’s three commercial casinos- have all urged officials to allow betting on sports, claiming the current prohibition on this form of wagering puts them at a competitive disadvantage with venues in neighboring states.
House Bill 3993, which passed the House last July, seeks to allow the three gambling facilities to develop sportsbooks, while also granting privileges to the state’s two simulcasting facilities. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) is subject to a 12.5% tax rate for land-based sportsbooks, while mobile operations are taxed at 15%.
