Massachusetts Sports Betting Update: Q1 2021 Target Date

Massachusetts Sports Betting News

This week could have been the week that sports betting was added to the economic development bill that the State House and State Senate were working on; however, unfortunately for Massachusetts bettors, it was once again left out. However, the reactions by the Governor and many members of Congress should give hope that sports betting is coming soon.

According to quotes provided by the Boston Herald, a spokeswoman for Governor Charlie Baker reached out on Wednesday for comment, “Governor Baker filed comprehensive sports betting legislation in January 2019 to make Massachusetts competitive with other states, and will carefully review the final economic development bill on his desk.” In another quote proved by the Boston Herald, many in the State Senate are also eager to get sports betting done and legalized in the first quarter of 2021.

It seems that just about everyone involved from legislatures to the Governor wants to get sports betting done and start to get that revenue flowing into the state and make it a destination for bettors and sportsbooks alike. Setting a deadline like this will leave constituents very disappointed if it does not get done, and that is where the real news lies. The Governor and Senators have a target date.

Who is Pushing Sports Betting in Massachusetts?

While it was clear by their comments and their actions that both the Governor and many members of the State Senate want to get sports betting on the table, there is one major player that will be lobbying hard for this, DraftKings. DraftKings is now one of America’s top sportsbooks as well as a top online casino destination. This is, of course, alongside the dominance that the company currently has in the daily fantasy sports world. DraftKings is located in Boston and is one of the top companies pushing for sports betting to be legalized as it wants to make its home state a part of its top markets.

Having such a large presence in Massachusetts, it is really no wonder that this state could be the next to legalize when it comes to sports wagering in America.

Another major pressure is the fact that so many surrounding states such as New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have seen major success with sports betting. Not only is it giving residents a legal and licensed outlet to bet with, but it is also making the state tons of money that it can then use on public services.

New York, which technically has legal sports betting but only at a select few Upstate casinos, has also been in the news as Governor Cuomo is now pushing for expanded sports wagering as he looks to make up the deficit left by the horrible year that was 2020. Massachusetts does not want to be late to the party as it wants to attract as many bettors and sportsbooks as it can to increase revenue. This is surely a big push for the state to get a deal done.

All eyes will be on Massacheuts for 2021 to see what happens next in terms of sports betting.