The Bay State is officially part of the 30 plus states that have ratified sports betting legislations for their residents in the post-PASPA wave of gaming expansion. Governor Baker signed a sports wagering measure into law on Wednesday.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed the H.5164 sports betting bill on Wednesday afternoon, making sports betting legal in the Bay State. The bill won approval from the Senate and the House of Representatives on August 1 and has been sitting on the governor’s desk awaiting approval.
Governor Baker had a 10-day window until August 11 to assent or dissent the measure, and after thorough deliberation, he rubberstamped the measure right on time. Of course, Baker’s signature was expected as he has repeatedly shown support for efforts toward legalizing sports betting in the state over the years. In fact, it was Baker’s administration that tabled the first-ever proposed bill in 2019, recommending that allowing residents to wager on sporting events would reap great benefits for the state.
Following his formal approval of the bill, Gov. Baker stated:
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“Our administration first filed legislation to legalize sports wagering in the Commonwealth several years ago, and I am glad to be able to sign this bill into law today. We appreciate the dedication and compromise that the Legislature demonstrated on this issue, and we look forward to supporting the work of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) on the responsible implementation of the law over the next several months.”
With this new development, Massachusetts is now the 5th state in New England to officially legalize sports betting. On a national level, the Codfish State is the 38th US jurisdiction to pass regulated sports betting legislation.
A Long Road Ahead for Gaming Commissioners
Now that the bill has finally received the long-awaited gubernatorial green light, the onus is on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). The MGC is now tasked with setting up the market by conducting feasibility studies, drawing up ground rules, and awarding licenses to operators. Basically, the Bay State’s gaming regulator is expected to get all their ducks in a row in a few areas before any bet can be placed.
Plainridge Park Casino VP and general manager North Grounsell was among operator spokespersons who expressed their delight in the signing of the new bill. He said:
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“This is an important step in ensuring that Massachusetts can compete with neighboring states in a highly competitive gaming market and repatriate tax dollars leaving the state.”
From initial projections, lawmakers, the MGC, and other industry stakeholders had promised that residents would be able to start betting as early as the coming football season in September. In a Tuesday briefing – the eve of Gov. Baker’s signature on the sports betting measure, House Speaker Ronald Mariano had even told reporters:
Quote“You’ve got two hotels that are ready to open the doors as quickly as you can. I know Encore has built a room, and I know MGM is depending on this to increase their bottom line. So, I hope we can get it up and running … at least in time for fall football.”
However, due to the usual intricacies of launching regulated sports betting, it has now been confirmed that setting up shop will take several months. Upon the governor’s approval, sports betting enthusiasts across the state were excited, mainly because they had been waiting for this good news for about three years. Nonetheless, some have expressed a little disappointment in the unclear timeline during which they would have to wait before they can start wagering on sports events within state lines.
On the other hand, operators are already rolling up their sleeves in readiness for the official launch of the Massachusetts sports betting market. While it has been predicted that it may take “several months” to implement, some advocates are already trying to convince the state to at least expedite the process.
A Long Time Coming
The past four years have been busy for legislators across the nation. Proponents of sports betting got to work after the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for states to legalize the activity if they so wished. Massachusetts has had bills tabled every legislative session at House and Senate levels since 2018, but all have been shut down, citing concerns over gambling addiction, among others.
But then, with Bay Staters traveling to neighboring states for sports wagering and the fact that some form of the activity has been legalized in several states, it was about time to jump on the bandwagon. So, the recent move to submit a harmonized bill by both the Senate and House marks a pivotal moment in the state’s economy.
To address gambling addiction and mental issues that may or may not be related to gambling, a healthcare bill was also signed into law at the same time as the sports betting bill.
And even though it will take months for the first stake to be placed, there is a long list of sports fans and operators waiting for the process to be finalized with bated breath. As much as the time may seem too long, it is bound to pass by quite fast, and soon enough, the scene will be beaming with players looking to place bets. In any case, it has been a long road, and waiting a few more months to get things right sounds like a reasonable gamble.
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