Massachusetts House Frustrated As Senate Puts Off Sports Betting Another Year

The phrase “wait until next year” has become a common response when discussing Massachusetts sports betting.

Sen. Eric Lesser expressed his anticipation for a significant change this year. During an interview with Play MA in January, he confidently stated his belief that sports betting would be legalized in Massachusetts in 2021. Lesser went as far as to describe it as a definite possibility, with the potential for legal sports wagering to be up and running by the commencement of the NFL season.

After the House passed a sports betting bill in July by an impressive margin of 156-3, Lesser and the Senate were presented with a chance to make it a reality. The House members urged the Senate to take action.

House lawmakers were left frustrated as the Senate failed to consider sports betting throughout the remainder of the year.

In an interview with Play MA, Rep. Andy Vargas, the vice-chair of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, shared his involvement in crafting the bill that was successfully passed by the House.

Once again, we’re facing another year of revenue loss and the ongoing advantage the black market enjoys due to the absence of regulation in the sports betting industry. It’s a regrettable situation, but we can only hope that 2022 will finally bring the long-awaited changes.

MA sports betting’s progress in 2021

Indications at the beginning hinted that 2021 would witness the legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts.

During this session, lawmakers from the Bay State introduced a minimum of 14 bills related to sports wagering, with half of them originating from the Senate.

However, as the year drew to a close, Senate President Karen Spilka stated that sports betting was not a top priority for the Senate. This marks the second consecutive year that the House has approved sports betting legislation. In the previous year, the House incorporated sports betting provisions into an economic development bill.

The House members are left pondering the necessary measures that will prompt the Senate to take action.

Vargas stated, “Having successfully passed it, I believe we have fulfilled our duty. Now, we are simply awaiting the next steps.”

Sports betting border wars in New England

The Massachusetts legislature will enter its fourth year of sports betting discussions next year.

Starting from 2021, residents of Massachusetts now have an increased range of choices when it comes to accessing regulated sports betting in nearby states.

Sports betting was legalized in Connecticut this year and is currently operational. New York has also legalized online wagering, set to commence in early 2022. Additionally, New Hampshire and Rhode Island already had existing sports wagering systems in place.

Vargas pointed out his close proximity to the New Hampshire border, mentioning how individuals from his district frequently cross over to The Brook to place bets at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Vargas mentioned that he regularly observes people from Massachusetts sharing their presence in New Hampshire on social media over the weekends, engaging in gambling activities. He expressed disappointment over the potential financial gains slipping away from their state.

Will MA legalize sports betting in 2022?

There are five compelling reasons to be confident that MA will successfully pass sports betting legislation in 2022:

• Legislation that was brought forth in 2021 continues its relevance and impact into the year 2022. To elaborate, the House legislation first commences its journey in the Senate, where it is assigned to the Ways and Means Committee. Alongside this, Lesser’s Senate bill and various others also find themselves within the ambit of the Ways and Means Committee.
• Despite not having provided any assistance thus far, lawmakers in the state of Boston appreciate the presence of DraftKings, one of the largest sports betting companies, as it has its headquarters located there.
• Massachusetts lawmakers are increasingly aware that the state is lagging behind due to mounting pressure from other states.
• Governor Charlie Baker is a staunch advocate of legalization and has resubmitted his sports betting bill. He expressed his firm commitment to the cause by tweeting at the beginning of the NFL season, urging action and swift progress.
• According to Vargas, prioritizing sports betting has been emphasized by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.

Included in the House-approved sports betting bill is a provision for conducting a study that focuses on the involvement of minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.

Vargas announced that the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus would advocate for new laws aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the Massachusetts gambling sector.

Vargas stated that addressing the racial equity language in the House bill is of utmost importance to us. It holds a significant priority for the Black and Latino Caucus.

Vargas considers this year to be atypical, as standalone legislation usually doesn’t pass early in a typical Massachusetts legislative session.

COVID recovery efforts dominated much of the 2021 session, leaving little room for other issues. However, as we enter 2022, there is a possibility that other matters will receive attention early on.

Vargas expressed optimism about the potential for an early completion in the coming year, stating, “There is undoubtedly a chance for it to be done sooner, preferably in early 2022. I’m eager not to prolong the wait.”