Massachusetts: The first to consider gambling checks
Massachusetts is reshaping its sports betting landscape by implementing affordability, player protections, and advertising practices.Senate Docket No. 1657, introduced by...
Massachusetts to toughen rules on sports betting market
Massachusetts lawmakers are introducing Senate Bill 302 (SB302), now titled the Bettor Health Act, suggesting new tougher rules on sports betting marketing, including tax hikes and ad limits.
Massachusetts’s record $7.4 billion in sports bets from last year made the lawmakers consider new and tougher measures. The number has nearly doubled, with $14 billion wagered statewide. With the new bill, Senators John Keenan and Patricia Jehlen and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa aim to stop sports betting ads during live broadcasts and prevent misleading tactics that minimize bettor’s chances of winning.
The bill also targets risky betting behaviors by banning in-play and proposition bets. Keenan called these “the crack cocaine of sports betting“ due to their fast, addictive nature. Moreover, sportsbooks will also be required to check if bettors can afford to exceed certain limits, like $1,000 per day or $10,000 per month, ensuring the bet doesn’t go beyond 15% of their available funds.
Additionally, SB302 requires sports betting companies to share anonymous data with researchers studying gambling addiction. Last but not least, the bill proposes raising taxes on online betting sites from 20% to 51% and asking companies to contribute more to the state’s Public Health Trust Fund. Keenan has compared the industry’s tactics to Purdue Pharma’s during the opioid epidemic, warning of another potential public health crisis if left unchecked.
Despite opposition from the sports betting industry, state health officials announced a rise in problem gambling calls since the legalization of sports betting in 2023.
SB302 is currently under review by the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. If passed, the bill would change how sportsbooks operate in the state, making it harder to attract new users with flashy ads.
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