New online gambling study ordered by Massachusetts Senate
News on 26 Jun 2018
News on 26 Jun 2018
Industry observers could be excused for feeling a sense of deja vu this week when the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies was tasked with conducting a study on the economic impact of online gaming, daily fantasy sports, sports betting, online lottery sales, and horse racing.
They will recall that only last year the state regulator’s Special Commission on Online Gaming, Fantasy Sports Gaming and Daily Fantasy Sports submitted its conclusions following a similar exercise, with little apparent progress thereafter despite a recommendation that the state legislature legalise DFS, define online gaming in the state’s statutes, and consider more online lottery and gaming opportunities going forward.
The new Senate study will effectively look at the various industry verticals in conjunction with four relevant bills currently before the Legislature:
S.175: “An act relative to horse racing and wagering” to give the Massachusetts Gaming Commission the authority to oversee and regulate all aspects of horse racing.
S.182: “An act relative to online lottery” to conduct the state lottery online using the internet or through mobile devices as an addendum to current lottery laws.
S.185: “An act relative to a feasibility study for a horse park in the Commonwealth” for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to make recommendations regarding a horse park operated by a non-profit organization.
S.2273: “An act to regulate online gaming, daily fantasy sports, and online sports betting” to change current law that outlaws illegal gaming” and amend with provisions for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to oversee and regulate the online industries.
The deadline for submission of the new study has yet to be set, as has its detailed parameters, but observers are seeing the study as evidence of continued interest in introducing some form of regulation and licensing for the verticals, hopefully bringing to a positive end literally years of political manoeuvring and debate on online gambling in Massachusetts.
