Massachusetts Considers Online Gaming
Key Takeaways
  • Massachusetts has been one of the more active states when considering online gaming legislation.
  • In 2016, the commission urged lawmakers to reconsider legalizing broader online gaming in the “near future,” calling the legalization of additional online gaming “inevitable.”
  • If online poker is legalized in Massachusetts, the state will have the advantage of learning from the trailblazing efforts of Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey.

Online gambling is officially on the table in the Bay State, where State Senator Eileen Donoghue has introduced legislation that would regulate online gaming, daily fantasy sports, and online sports betting in Massachusetts if federal restrictions on the activity are lifted.

SD 2480 was filed last week and was subsequently referred to the Referred to Joint Committee on Rules where both branches of the legislature will consider the proposed legislation concurrently.

Massachusetts has been one of the more active states when considering online gaming legislation. In 2016 the state sanctioned a Special Commission to study online gaming including fantasy sports.