Massachusetts: Vote on Sports Betting

Massachusetts has been locked in a debate over legalizing sports betting. The vote is expected to be held Thursday. The Senate bill published Friday differs significantly from the House sports betting Bill.

According to sources, the Senate Ways and Means Committee approved the Wagering Bill last Friday. The Senate will vote on the Wagering Bill next week. This means that lawmakers have three months to work together to pass a Bill in support of Governor Charlie Baker. Baker supports legalized sports betting since many years. 

“I am pleased to see the committee has come to an agreement on a strong proposal and I look forward to discussing it with my colleagues next week,” said Senate President Karen Spilka.

Since May 2018, more than 30 states, including Massachusetts’ neighbour Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut and New York have all proceeded in allowing sports betting to be made legal.

One of the main differences between the Bill the Senate Ways and Means Committee advanced on Friday and the legislation that passed through House in July is the prohibition on wagers on collegiate athletes that was included in the Senate’s Bill.  It continues to be a contentious issue with House Speaker, Ronald Mariano stating that for him, leaving collegiate betting out of any Bill “probably would be” a dealbreaker. 

“I find myself having a tough time trying to justify going through all of this to not include probably the main driver of betting in the Commonwealth,” commented said last summer.

But, the Senate says that it is consistent with a request by the Presidents of Athletic Directors from eight Massachusetts colleges and universities to ban college sports betting. 

Legalising sports betting on college athletics would lead to “unnecessary and unacceptable risks to student athletes, their campus peers, and the integrity and culture of colleges and universities in the Commonwealth,” stated the Presidents and Athletics Director.