New Massachusetts Sports Gambling Bill Includes Significant Tax Hike and Restriction on Live Betting

Recent MA Sports Gambling Legislation Includes Significant Tax Increase and Prohibition on Real-Time Betting

Massachusetts sports betting could look entirely different if a new costs proposed in the Senate is successful. And if history is any indication, managed sports betting in other states might also change significantly.

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 calls for a total restriction on live betting (in-game wagering) and prop bets.

The main thing to remember is that Massachusetts has actually been at the leading edge of more stringent sports betting guidelines. The 2nd thing to know is that the language of this expense resembles the SAFE Bet Act, a federal piece of legislation introduced in 2024.

This expense 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 regulation.

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

A closer look at SD 1657

Tax

Beginning with the tax rate increase, bringing sports betting to 51% has been a target for Sen. Keenan before. Keenan proposed a tax boost at the last legal session, but it was rejected. This boost would have can be found in the state’s budget costs.

Just 3 markets have tax rates of 51%, the highest in the country: New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. At 20%, Massachusetts currently ranks sixth greatest.

Banning live betting and prop betting

The measure forbids in-play (live betting) or prop betting. Only straight wagers would be enabled, restricting sportsbooks to offering only moneyline, spread, and overalls.

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

The bill likewise 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 amount of cash they keep off each $1 bet.

Player Limits

SD 1657 also aims to produce obligatory daily and regular monthly limits for bettors. Bettors could not wager more than $1,000 a day and $10,000 a month without an ‘price assessment’ which involves inspecting bank accounts. A player can not wager more than 15% of the amount in their account.

Massachusetts would become the very first market to need a cost evaluation on bettors.

Marketing limitations

Keenan also wants to eliminate advertising during televised sporting occasions. The procedure would restrict sportsbooks from running advertisements throughout video games. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has looked into creating a ban on in-game ads before. However, this did not go through as nationwide television offers make this difficult to implement.

Will the measure pass?

The step is severe in its changes 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 market fans.

Because of this, the step will likely be combated in the Senate and your home of Representatives. In the previous session, Keenan failed 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 measure, it is difficult to tell how it will be gotten.