House lawmakers are again putting the legalization of sports betting in the Senate’s court after overwhelmingly approving a bill that would allow that gaming activity for the second time in as many years.
“The time has come for us to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts,” said Rep. Jerald Parisella (D-Beverly), who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Economic Development.
The proposal scored a blowout win in the House, posting a 156-3 victory in the 160-member body.
Now that the House has approved the measure, the focus shifts to Parisella’s Senate counterpart, Eric Lesser, whose sports betting bill has yet to make its way through the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The Longmeadow Democrat has publicly indicated his colleagues may finally be prepared to move positively on this matter, if it meets their criteria.
Though vague on when the Senate might take up the issue, Lesser told NESN that Massachusetts “should really hope and aim to get this going by the end of the calendar year.”
“I think we’re ready. Look, it’s been three years since the Supreme Court allowed states to move forward on sports betting. Since then you went from two states — New Jersey and Nevada — that had sports betting markets to 30. And again, almost all of our neighbors in almost all the states in the Northeast now have it,” Lesser said on the regional sports network. “So it’s time. It’s time for Massachusetts to do this.”
We’re not sure what audience Lesser was trying to persuade, other than reluctant senators. It certainly isn’t the residents of the commonwealth who, if you believe a recent poll on the subject, are decidedly in favor of sports wagering.
That survey, commissioned by Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park and conducted by respected pollster David A. Paleologos Associates in early June, found that 61% of Massachusetts voters would support sports betting in the state.
That positive number jumps to 72% if the funds were used to support K-12 education or welfare programs.
The most important influencer that Lesser must convince happens to be the person leading his caucus, Senate President Karen Spilka.
Senate indifference killed the bill in the last session, and Spilka doesn’t seem predisposed to make it a priority any time soon.
The Ashland Democrat recently remarked the Senate would review the sports betting proposal “as it continues its work to address the many important issues facing the commonwealth, including COVID-19 recovery, mental health reform and meaningful voting reforms.”
The House and Senate will probably take a summer break soon, so it’s unclear when — or if — the Senate plans to take up a sports betting bill.
But while the Senate fiddles, other states will continue to cash in on sports betting, providing added revenue, and in the process siphoning Massachusetts tax dollars.
In case it’s escaped Spilka’s attention, it should be noted that sports betting is a major nationwide growth industry. It brought in $960 million in the first quarter of 2021, according to a state Gaming Commission report.
The Senate’s main concern — and main impediment — with any sports betting legislation appears to be ensuring the proper protections for problem gamblers.
Both Senate and House obviously appreciate their need, and should be able to reach a consensus.
Senators, stop moving the goalposts and pass a sports-betting bill that the entire Legislature can support.
