
Cover the Bases: Sports Betting News and Notes from the Past Week
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Recent MA Sports Betting Bill Contains Substantial Tax Increase and Ban on Real-Time Betting
Massachusetts sports betting could look entirely various if a new bill proposed in the Senate achieves success. And if history is any indication, regulated sports betting in other states might also change considerably.
SD 1657 was presented by Sen. John Keenan. “An Act Addressing Economic, Health, and Social Harms Caused by Sports Betting” aims to increase the existing sports betting tax rate from 20% to 51%. In Addition, Sen. Keenan calls for a complete ban on live sports betting (in-game betting) and prop bets.
The main thing to bear in mind is that Massachusetts has actually been at the forefront of stricter sports betting regulations. The 2nd thing to understand is that the language of this expense is similar to the SAFE Bet Act, a federal piece of legislation presented in 2024.
This bill was presented not long after former Massachusetts Governor and existing NCAA president Charlie Baker affirmed in front of the Senate in a meeting on sports betting guideline.
So, while this is presently a Massachusetts bill, it’s likely to affect other states that use controlled sports betting.
A closer take a look at SD 1657
Taxation
Starting 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 legal session, but it was turned down. This boost would have come in the state’s spending plan expense.
Only three markets have tax rates of 51%, the greatest in the nation: New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. At 20%, Massachusetts currently ranks sixth highest.
Banning live betting and prop betting
The procedure forbids in-play (live betting) or prop sports betting. Only straight wagers would be enabled, restricting sportsbooks to offering just moneyline, spread, and totals.
While Massachusetts and other markets have restrictions on college sports betting, this would impact even professional sporting occasions.
The bill also looks for to add bonus offers and same-game parlays to the classification of “unreasonable and misleading practices.” Sportsbooks favour same-game parlays due to their high “hold” portion, the quantity of cash they keep off each $1 wagered.
Player Limits
SD 1657 likewise intends to create necessary day-to-day and month-to-month limits for bettors. Bettors could not wager more than $1,000 a day and $10,000 a month without an ‘cost assessment’ which includes examining bank accounts. A gamer can not wager more than 15% of the quantity in their account.
Massachusetts would end up being the very first market to need an affordability evaluation on bettors.
Advertising restrictions
Keenan likewise wants to get rid of marketing throughout telecasted sporting occasions. The step would forbid sportsbooks from running ads during games. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has looked into producing a restriction on in-game advertisements before. However, this did not go through as national television offers make this tough to impose.
Will the procedure pass?
The procedure is harsh in its modifications to the sports betting industry in Massachusetts. Banning prop betting and increasing the sports betting tax rate will likely lead to pushback from local sportsbooks and industry advocates.
Because of this, the procedure will likely be battled in the Senate and your house of Representatives. In the previous session, Keenan stopped working to raise the tax rate.
He would have to persuade the other senators who did not support his initiative before to alter their minds. If and when the Senate discusses this procedure, it is difficult to inform how it will be gotten.