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Lawmakers in the commonwealth of Massachusetts continue to waste precious time. As most of their neighbors now offering legalized sports wagering, Massachusetts will go another year without it.....though offshore sportsbooks and local bookies are still readily available.
The Massachusetts State Senate will be adjourning for the year (2021) on Wednesday without taking action on a measure legalizing sports betting that passed the House earlier in the year. That bill was also supported by Governor Charlie Baker.
January 2022 would represent the absolute earliest any similar legislation would even be considered. The odds of a bill passing and gambling companies up and running by March Madness are slim to none. In-state licensed sportsbooks in operation for the Red Sox season opener are slim to none.
To date, Vermont is the only state bordering Massachusetts that has not yet begun offering in-state licensed sports betting.
Despite not offering the activity, the commonwealth plays a critical role in the legal sports gambling landscape as it is headquarters for one of the industry behemoths, DraftKings.
An interesting trend has emerged in the Northeast as Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire and New Jersey all prohibit wagering on in-state schools or games that feature them.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
