Cover the Bases: Sports Betting News and Notes from the Past Week

Latest Massachusetts Sports Gambling Bill Contains Significant Tax Increase and Restriction on In-Play Betting

Massachusetts sports betting might look entirely different if a new costs proposed in the Senate succeeds. And if history is any indicator, managed sports betting in other states might also alter dramatically.

SD 1657 was presented by Sen. John Keenan. “An Act Addressing Economic, Health, and Social Harms Caused by Sports Betting” intends to increase the existing sports betting tax rate from 20% to 51%. Additionally, Sen. Keenan calls for a total ban on live betting (in-game wagering) and prop bets.

The main point to bear in mind is that Massachusetts has been at the leading edge of more stringent sports betting regulations. The second thing to understand is that the language of this expense is similar to the SAFE Bet Act, a federal piece of legislation presented in 2024.

This bill was presented not long after previous Massachusetts Governor and current NCAA president Charlie Baker affirmed in front of the Senate in a meeting on sports betting guideline.

So, while this is currently a Massachusetts bill, it’s most likely to affect other states that use regulated sports betting.

A closer take a look at SD 1657

Taxation

Starting with the tax rate boost, bringing sports betting to 51% has been a target for Sen. Keenan before. Keenan proposed a tax increase at the last legislative session, however it was declined. This increase would have been available in the plan expense.

Just three markets have tax rates of 51%, the greatest in the nation: New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. At 20%, Massachusetts presently ranks sixth highest.

Banning live betting and prop betting

The measure forbids in-play (live betting) or prop betting. Only straight wagers would be allowed, limiting sportsbooks to providing only moneyline, spread, and totals.

While Massachusetts and other markets have restrictions on collegiate betting, this would impact even professional sporting occasions.

The expense also looks for to include rewards and same-game parlays to the category of “unreasonable and deceptive practices.” Sportsbooks favour same-game parlays due to their high “hold” portion, the amount of money they keep off each $1 wagered.

Player Limits

SD 1657 also intends to produce obligatory day-to-day and month-to-month limits for bettors. Bettors might not wager more than $1,000 a day and $10,000 a month without an ‘price assessment’ which involves checking savings account. A gamer can not wager more than 15% of the quantity in their account.

Massachusetts would become the very first market to need an affordability assessment on bettors.

Marketing limitations

Keenan also wishes to eliminate marketing throughout televised sporting events. The procedure would forbid sportsbooks from running advertisements throughout games. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has actually checked out creating a ban on in-game advertisements before. Nevertheless, this did not go through as nationwide television offers make this hard to implement.

Will the procedure pass?

The measure is extreme in its modifications to the sports betting industry in Massachusetts. Banning prop betting and increasing the sports betting tax rate will likely lead to pushback from local sportsbooks and industry advocates.

Because of this, the procedure will likely be combated in the Senate and your home of Representatives. In the previous session, Keenan failed to raise the tax rate.

He would need to convince the other senators who did not support his effort before to change their minds. If and when the Senate discusses this step, it is impossible to tell how it will be gotten.