The Massachusetts Senate voted on Thursday to legalize and regulate sports wagering. This comes after years of discussions and negotiations from lawmakers and interest groups.
However, sports betting isn’t quite becoming a reality in the state just yet, since lawmakers now have to find a way to reconcile the differences found between Thursday’s Senate bill and another one that was passed last summer in the House.
In July 2021, the House overwhelmingly approved a bill to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts on a vote of 156 – 3.
Senate Ways and Means chairman, Michael Rodrigues said on Thursday: “I am proud to say that this bill is a product of a thoughtful, deliberative process that takes into account the lessons learned in other states who rushed into legalization. Some may wish we had acted sooner, but I am convinced that the time we took resulted in a final product that will be a national model for responsible sports wagering,” Senate Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues said at the start of debate Thursday. “The Senate Ways and Means proposal maximizes the benefits for the commonwealth and minimizes harms to consumers and the general public.”
It is estimated that the Senate Bill could generate up to $35 million in annual tax revenue for the state.
Adults (21 years and older) will be allowed to bet on professional sports at casinos, slot parlors and existing brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, either online or physically.
