Massachusetts Plans Two-Day Hearing On Sports Betting Legalization
There is legislative momentum to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts, but residents shouldn't count on betting on Tom Brady when the next NFL season kicks off.
The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies scheduled a hearing May 28 and 29 at the Massachusetts State House. The first item on the committee agenda is to review Gov. Charlie Baker’s plan to legalize sports betting in the state, the Boston Business Journal reports.
Baker filed legislation in January to legalize sports betting at casinos and online, saying the measure would generate $35M in revenue in its first year. State Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Daniel Cullinane, both Democrats, have filed respective bills proposing sports betting's legalization in Massachusetts.
Boston-based fantasy sports company DraftKings was the first operator to launch online sports betting following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to legalize the wagering. The company also has a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at a Mississippi casino and has publicly supported Baker’s proposal.
State Sen. Eric Lesser, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, said it is unlikely sports betting will be legal in time for the first New England Patriots game of the 2019 season in September.
