New bill seeking to impose limit on Massachusetts sports betting

Massachusetts lawmakers are taking action to regulate the booming sports betting industry with the introduction of a new bill aimed at imposing stricter restrictions on gambling activities. 

The proposed legislation, known as the "Bettor Health Act," is being championed by State Senator John Keenan, who expressed growing concerns over the rapid expansion of sports betting in the state, CBS News reported.

"It's a multi-billion-dollar business that is growing every single day,” Keenan said. “Now, what I'm hearing from people is that they feel that they can't even watch a sporting event without something coming up relative to placing a bet. And they feel that it is too much.”

The bill includes several provisions, including increasing the tax rate on online betting platforms from 20% to 51%, banning sports betting advertisements during live game broadcasts, and setting daily betting limits for consumers until gambling operators conduct affordability checks, ensuring bettors have sufficient funds to wager responsibly. 

The bill has drawn mixed reactions. While some consumers and individuals facing gambling addiction welcomed the move, as the bill would require betting companies to increase the money they contribute to public addiction services, the gaming industry's response to the bill wasn't as favorable.

The Sports Betting Alliance, which represents major sports betting companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, has criticized the proposed tax hikes. 

In a statement, the group warned that increased taxes could drive Massachusetts residents to unregulated, offshore betting platforms, which are not bound by state laws. “Offshore online bookies, who pay no taxes, already provide better odds for the same games -- this tax increase would make that difference even more drastic,” the group said. 

A committee hearing for the "Bettor Health Act" is scheduled for the coming months, where lawmakers will further review the bill’s provisions and its potential impact on the state's sports betting market.