Massachusetts Senate passes sports betting bill but prohibits college wagering

Massachusetts has taken an important step in passing sports betting into state law, with the Senate approving a bill for the first time

Massachusetts has taken an of import tread in going sports betting into land law, with the Senate approbative a measure for the for the first time time.

Rather unusually, however, the Senate rejected several sections of the measure, including the power for bettors to place wagers on college sports. Of the 32 states which have got sanctioned sports betting to date, only when Prairie State has prohibited college sports betting.

If the visor is signed into law, which is inwards the counterbalance as the House of Representatives is ease to vote, it would generate an estimated $35m inwards annual body politic taxes.

Senate Chairman Michael Rodrigues commented: “This banker's bill maximises benefits to the Commonwealth and minimises harm to consumers and the superior general public. We are bringing sports betting into the lightsome of day.

“We inwards the Senate spent a lot of time thought process about a banker's bill that achieves those 3 overarching goals of maximising revenue, promoting economic evolution and establishing the strongest consumer tribute measures. I reckon we smash it on the head.”

The House has antecedently passed a bill on sports betting, including college sports, twice, to the highest degree of late past a border of 156 to 3. The Senate’s eyeshade will at present spell indorse to the House for approval and could human face several rejections o'er the proposed amendments.

The value passed past the Senate prohibits the use of credit cards to come in bets in the call of responsible gambling. The stream peak would reserve bettors to set limits on how much money and how often they gamble.

The Senate also rejected several other points, including funnelling money to aid for retired racehorses and paying for mental health professionals inwards schools.