New Massachusetts Sports Gambling Bill Contains Significant Tax Increase and Ban on Live Betting

Massachusetts sports betting might look totally different if a new costs proposed in the Senate succeeds. And if history is any indicator, controlled 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%. Additionally, Sen. Keenan requires a total ban on live betting (in-game betting) and prop bets.

The main point to bear in mind is that Massachusetts has actually been at the forefront of more stringent sports betting regulations. The second thing to know is that the language of this bill is similar to the SAFE Bet Act, a federal piece of legislation presented in 2024.

This costs was introduced not long after previous Massachusetts Governor and current NCAA president Charlie Baker testified in front of the Senate in a meeting on sports betting policy.

So, while this is currently a Massachusetts costs, it’s likely to affect other states that use regulated sports betting.

A closer look at SD 1657

Taxation

Beginning with the tax rate boost, bringing sports betting to 51% has actually been a target for Sen. Keenan before. Keenan proposed a tax increase at the last legal session, however it was turned down. This boost would have come in the state’s budget plan bill.

Only three markets have tax rates of 51%, the greatest in the country: New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. At 20%, Massachusetts currently ranks 6th highest.

Prohibiting live betting and prop betting

The step forbids in-play (live betting) or prop betting. Just would be enabled, restricting sportsbooks to offering only moneyline, spread, and totals.

While Massachusetts and other markets have limitations on collegiate wagering, this would impact even expert sporting occasions.

The expense also looks for to include bonus offers and same-game parlays to the classification of “unreasonable and misleading practices.” Sportsbooks favour same-game parlays due to their high “hold” percentage, the quantity of money they keep off each $1 wagered.

Gamer Limits

SD 1657 also intends to develop mandatory daily and month-to-month limits for bettors. Bettors might not wager more than $1,000 a day and $10,000 a month without an ‘price evaluation’ which includes examining bank accounts. A gamer can not wager more than 15% of the quantity in their account.

Massachusetts would become the first market to require a cost assessment on bettors.

Marketing constraints

Keenan likewise wishes to remove marketing throughout telecasted sporting events. The step would prohibit sportsbooks from running advertisements throughout video games. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has looked into producing a restriction on in-game ads before. However, this did not go through as nationwide TV deals make this difficult to impose.

Will the step pass?

The measure is severe in its changes to the sports betting industry in Massachusetts. Banning prop betting and increasing the sports betting tax rate will likely cause pushback from local sportsbooks and industry supporters.

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 need to persuade the other senators who did not support his effort before to change their minds. If and when the Senate discusses this step, it is impossible to inform how it will be gotten.