Massachusetts Dramatic Sports Gambling Bill
sports-betting

Massachusetts Poised To Make Dramatic Changes To Its Sports Gaming Industry

Massachusetts could dramatically change the sports betting industry within its borders with bill SD 1657 proposed by state Senator John Keenan. This new bill would not only put the Codfish State amongst the most taxed states in the Union but also have some of the most restrictive laws in the land.

Here are some of bill SD 1657's highlights:

  • In-play bets (live betting) and prop bets would be banned
  • Cap wagering to $1,000 daily or $10,000 monthly unless an affordability check is conducted
  • Tax on sports gambling revenues increases from 20% to 51%
  • Promotional tools like bonus promotions, same-game parlays, odds boost, reload bonuses, and "no-sweat" best would be banned.
  • No TV ads during sporting events

Could this bill pass in the Massachusetts legislature or will it fall by the wayside?

Negotiation Tactic

Senator Keenan believes bill SD 1657 is good for all Bay Staters and should be approved word for word. But as with all bills, it's naive to think any bill will pass the scrupulous legislative process unchanged.

This bill will face heavy resistance from the gambling industry within Massachusetts and even nationally. Money will pour into the state to defeat this bill or weaken its language. Keenan, a State Senator who's been on the job since 2011 knows this.

He's expecting this fight, this bill isn't meant to pass as is. It's the initial step in a negotiation process where certain aspects will fall by the wayside while others pass through. 

What May Or May Not Pass?

Of all the aspects of his bill, a tax increase seems like an easy win considering bordering states like New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island already tax sports gambling operators at 51%. Massachusetts collected $130 million in tax revenues on sports gambling in 2024; the chance to more than double that will be far too tempting for state lawmakers to pass up.

But it's hard to see some of the other aspects of Keenan's bill pass. Specifically, the section that caps wagering to $1,000 daily or $10,000 monthly (unless an affordability check is made). The bill does not mention how such a law could be enforced and would certainly face some tough questions from opponents and lobbyists. 

But look, perhaps if Keenan's bill either gets defeated or watered down, he could still get his way at the federal level with last year's introduction of the SAFE Bet Act.

Copycat Bill

In September 2024, Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the SAFE Bet Act which contains many familiar proposals from Keenan's bill SD 1657. 

Just look at what can be found in the SAFE Bet Act: 

  • No sports gambling ads between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. or during live sporting events
  • Incentives like bonus bets are banned
  • No prop bets on college or amateur sports
  • No live sports betting
  • No more than five deposits in 24 hours
  • No deposits by credit card
  • Affordability checks on wagers of more than $1,000 in 24 hours or $10,000 in 30 days 
  • AI cannot be used to track wagers or offer promotions or gambling products
  • Books may not advertise odds boosts or similar offers

The SAFE Bet Act is currently in the hands of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. When it might be heard is still TBD.

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