Western Mass. Group Wants To See A Bigger Sports Betting Footprint
A Chicopee business group wants to expand Massachusetts’ future sports betting industry beyond casinos and into mom-and-pop outlets.
Fair Play Massachusetts wants sports betting legalized in state-licensed keno parlors in a move to benefit small businesses as well as the Massachusetts gaming industry. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker introduced sports betting legislation in January that would legalize it in slots parlors and casinos like MGM Springfield and the Encore Boston Harbor currently under construction, the Boston Herald reports.
Baker's plan is expected to bring in $35M of tax revenue in its first fiscal year.
Fair Play Massachusetts said it supports legalized sports betting in casinos, but it doesn’t want to see a monopoly. Massachusetts keno parlors range from corner convenience stores to neighborhood pubs. A greater sports betting footprint would be a benefit to the state coffers, Fair Play Massachusetts supporters said.
“When we make an extra $2K, what do us local guys do? We spend it back in this state,” Springfield restaurant owner Joe Sullivan told the Herald. “When the casinos make extra money, they don’t spend it here, they give it back to their shareholders like they are supposed to.”
