Sports betting before Legislature

A ‘no-brainer’ to raise revenue, advocates say

Sports betting could expand from casinos online and into restaurants and bars should lawmakers approve two fair-play amendments tucked inside a mammoth economic development bill that also aims to tackle housing, transportation bonds, carbon taxes and more.

“It’s really a no brainer; especially now in the face of COVID. We help out our small, local businesses and we allow more safe and legal access throughout the state, all while bringing in more much needed state revenue,” said Fair Play Massachusetts spokesman Ryan McCollum.

State Reps. James O’Day, D-West Boylston, and Brian Ashe, D-Longmeadow, offered two of the 499 amendments to the socalled jobs bill that would legalize in-person and mobile betting on professional and college sports, and give oversight to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Licenses would be available to the state’s casinos and race tracks, as well as online platforms like the locally based DraftKings.

The amendments also increase the excise tax from 15% to 50%, bringing in more tax revenue at a time when the state is facing a deficit upwards of $6 billion.

“As we confront an economic downturn and budget shortfalls, this is a unique moment for the Legislature to act to protect consumers, create jobs, and bring an infusion of tens of millions of dollars in muchneeded revenues to the Commonwealth,” DraftKings, FanDuel, MGM and the Boston Red Sox said in a joint statement after the bill came out.

Billy Stetson, owner of Rumbleseat Bar and Grill in Chicopee minutes away from MGM Springfield, said in a statement the changes could help give his business a boost.

“Customers coming to my place to watch the Sox, Pats, Bruins or Celtics are a big part of my business but if I can’t offer a way for people to bet in person and MGM is, then I will lose even more customers to them,”

Stetson said.

But the so-called jobs bill has become the landing strip for legislators’ lastditch efforts in moving forward major policy proposals.

Lawmakers warn it will be a race to the end to finish debate by the Friday deadline.

AP FILE WANT TO BET? People watch Super Bowl LIII at the Westgate Superbook sports book on Feb. 3, 2019, in Las Vegas. A measured attached to an economic development bill before the state Legislature would expand sports betting options.

HERaLD sTaFF FILE DraftKings joined a joint statement with FanDuel, MGM and the Red Sox in favor of the bill, saying it would, ‘bring an infusion of tens of millions of dollars in much-needed revenues to the Commonwealth.’