
Cover the Bases: Sports Betting News and Notes from the Past Week
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Latest Massachusetts Sports Betting Bill Includes Significant Tax Hike & Restriction on Live Betting
Massachusetts sports betting could look completely various if a new costs proposed in the Senate succeeds. And if history is any indicator, controlled sports betting in other states might also change drastically.
SD 1657 existed 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%. In Addition, Sen. Keenan calls for a complete ban on live betting (in-game wagering) and prop bets.
The main point to keep in mind is that Massachusetts has actually been at the leading edge of stricter sports betting guidelines. The second thing to know is that the language of this bill is similar to the SAFE Bet Act, a federal piece of legislation introduced in 2024.
This costs was presented not long after previous Massachusetts Governor and existing NCAA president Charlie Baker affirmed in front of the Senate in a meeting on sports betting regulation.
So, while this is currently a Massachusetts expense, it’s likely to impact other states that offer regulated sports betting.
A closer take a look at SD 1657
Tax
Beginning with the tax rate increase, 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 rejected. This increase would have can be found in the state’s budget costs.
Only three markets have tax rates of 51%, the greatest in the country: New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. At 20%, Massachusetts presently ranks 6th highest.
Prohibiting live betting and prop betting
The measure restricts in-play (live betting) or prop betting. Only straight wagers would be permitted, restricting sportsbooks to providing only moneyline, spread, and totals.
While Massachusetts and other markets have constraints on college betting, this would affect even professional sporting occasions.
The expense also seeks to add bonuses and same-game parlays to the category of “unjust and deceptive practices.” Sportsbooks favour same-game parlays due to their high “hold” portion, the amount of cash they keep off each $1 bet.
Player Limits
SD 1657 likewise intends to develop compulsory day-to-day and regular monthly limitations for bettors. Bettors might not wager more than $1,000 a day and $10,000 a month without an ‘cost assessment’ which involves inspecting bank accounts. A player can not wager more than 15% of the quantity in their account.
Massachusetts would become the first market to require a cost evaluation on bettors.
Advertising constraints
Keenan also wishes to remove advertising during televised sporting occasions. The procedure would forbid sportsbooks from running advertisements throughout games. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has actually looked into creating a ban on in-game advertisements before. However, this did not go through as national television offers make this hard to implement.
Will the procedure pass?
The procedure is extreme in its changes to the sports betting industry in Massachusetts. Banning prop betting and increasing the sports betting tax rate will likely result in pushback from local sportsbooks and market supporters.
Because of this, the procedure will likely be battled in the Senate and your home of Representatives. In the previous session, Keenan stopped working to raise the tax rate.
He would have to encourage the other senators who did not support his effort before to change their minds. If and when the Senate discusses this procedure, it is difficult to tell how it will be received.