The sports wagering bill put forward earlier this month by the Massachusetts legislature has been amended, with new details now doubling the tax rate for online betting while also adding provisions to legalize online lotteries.
Designed to enable ‘partnerships for growth’ in the state, the bill set out a host of proposed measures including the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act, which in turn would legalise online, mobile and land-based sports betting in Massachusetts.
Through the amendments, which includes the legalisation of online lottery sales, the bill has been consolidated and adopted by the House following a 157-1 in favour vote.
As a result of the amendment, the state Lottery Commision will now be free to ‘implement promotional activities’ with the aim of encouraging the purchasing of lottery tickets. Furthermore, the Commission is now set to carry out an independent study of its own to highlight any potential defects in the state lottery law and recommend changes accordingly.
The inclusion of lottery will see players, who are required to set both maximum deposit and spending limits, given the option to self-exclude from online lottery. Moreover, operational and administration costs in running the online lottery product may not exceed 15% of ticket sale revenue.
Additionally, the state lottery will also be permitted to offer online fantasy sports under the new rules, with the amended bill currently awaiting a third reading in the House of Representatives prior to a potential move to the state Senate if passed.
