The Massachusetts Gaming Commission disclosed they are planning to study the online gambling industry to be able to enforce the necessary regulations in the future. Local media reported Massachusetts lawmakers have already begun discussions on the topic of legalising and regulating interactive gambling activities within the state’s borders.
Stephen Crosby, Chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, commented the legislation of online gambling would give the state’s economy a boost and would pay real dividends for the Commonwealth. According to local media reports, the lawmakers are currently considering to enforce regulations on online gambling that would be similar to those that apply to brick-and-mortar gambling establishments on the territory of the state. This would not only promote responsible gambling among Massachusetts players, but would also enable legislators to properly tax the online games on offer.
At the present moment, only landbased gambling venues operate legally in Massachusetts, with MGM, Wynn, and Penn National being the biggest casino operators on the territory of the state. All three operators reported they support the idea of making online gambling legal as long as they are allowed to maintain their strong position in the industry.
Seth Stratton, Vice President and General Counsel for MGM Springfield commented the Massachusetts Gaming Commission should consider allowing already established landbased gambling providers to operate an online gaming business.
According to Stratton, this is a sensible idea because top casino operators have already gone through an extensive vetting process and if allowed to operate online, they would be treading a familiar path. MGM also stated they do not consider the legislation of online gambling in Massachusetts as a threat for their landbased business. If anything, interactive gaming would be complimentary to their brick-and-mortar establishments.
What is more, MGM already operates an online gambling business on the territory of Nevada and New Jersey. Representatives of MGM, Wynn and Penn National also revealed the three casino operators were not interested in adding daily fantasy sports betting products to their online gambling offerings.
Online gambling is currently illegal within the borders of Massachusetts but the state’s legislators have already taken the first steps towards legalising some forms of interactive gaming. Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced a new bill that would give the Massachusetts State Lottery the green light to legally offer online lottery games.
The Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg expressed her confidence that the legislation of online lottery games would give the state an opportunity to modernise its system and offer a more “forward-thinking product” to millennials residing there. Goldberg revealed her idea was to give the state’s lottery revenue a boost by enabling Massachusetts residents to partake in lottery games on their desktop computers and mobile devices.
Although Massachusetts lawmakers have already taken some steps towards regulating interactive gaming, legalising online gambling on the territory of the state is unlikely to take place before 2017 comes to an end. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is expected to release an official report on their stance later this week.
- Author
Daniel Williams
