Massachusetts legislators will begin online casino discussions next week.
Lawmakers scheduled a hearing June 23 for House Bill 332 and Senate Bill 235 in the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Sen. Paul Feeney and Rep. Daniel Cahill introduced the bills that would legalize online casinos in February.
MA online casino details
Both bills would allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to regulate and license online casino operators in the Bay State.
The proposal would allow the state’s three casinos to partner with up to two online operators. Regulators could also award up to four untethered operators.
Licenses would carry a $5 million fee for an initial five-year term, with renewal five-year terms at $5 million. Operators would pay a tax rate of 20% on revenue.
Top MA regulator calls for guardrails
Jordan Maynard, chair of the MGC, recently said the US gambling industry has become “a highway without guardrails.”
Maynard called on the federal government for a nationwide advertising framework for the industry during a recent meeting. Similar legislation for a national framework was recently reintroduced in Canada.
He also said nationwide exclusion lists could be discussed.
Tough session for iGaming
Multiple legislatures saw lawmakers introduce online gambling legislation. Few of the bills saw much discussion, with the industry facing growing scrutiny.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker floated the idea of legalized online casinos to help cover a $3 billion budget deficit, but the final budget did not include such a legalization. Instead, lawmakers added a per-bet tax.
Other states like Maryland, Indiana, Wyoming and Louisiana did not move on legislation.
Industry thoughts on online casino
A broad member from the National Association Against iGaming recently explained the group’s thoughts against online casino expansion to LSR.
Meanwhile, Sports Betting Alliance President Jeremy Kudon responded to the piece with an argument for the proponent side. His response includes reports from Eilers & Krejcik and the Analysis Group that iGaming helps increase traffic and revenue growth at in-person casinos.
“Their claims about job loss, problem gaming, and unregulated market competition simply aren’t supported by facts,” Kudon said. “The regulated market is far superior to the unregulated, illegal market for both customers and states — and regulators like David Rebuck, who saw firsthand the difference between regulated and unregulated iGaming operators, are some of the biggest proponents of a regulated market.”
