Two different online gambling bills have been introduced in the Massachusetts Legislature. One bill covers internet lottery sales, while the other bill covers more broad gaming.
Massachusetts Senator Jennifer Flanagan has introduced Senate Bill 101. The bill would legalize internet lottery sales. The bill would allow for lotto, keno and scratch off tickets to be sold over the internet. Scratch off tickets could resemble casino style slot machines with symbols used to determine the outcome. Online lottery players would be required to be at least 18 years of age and be located within the state at the time of purchase. Safeguards would be in place to determine both the player’s age and physical location.
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr has introduced Senate Bill 197. This bill would legalize a number of online gambling games. The bill itself allows the state to license internet gambling companies to operate within the state. These companies could offer a number of games as long as they did not offer games that directly competed with the state lottery. This would likely mean video poker, table games and video poker could be offered by licensed casino companies.
Both bills would allow for the state to network its online gaming offers with other states.
Massachusetts approved brick and mortar casinos in 2011. There is a rush to claim the four casino licenses available. There will be three full service casinos and one slots parlor in the state once the licenses have been awarded. No casinos are currently live in Massachusetts. This makes the internet licensing process vague since possible state partners have yet to be named. The bill does not require a license holder to operate a brick and mortar gaming business within the state, but the licensing requirements would ultimately be up to the state government should the bill pass.
Delaware and Nevada have already passed online gambling within their states. Nevada passed online poker regulations in 2011 and passed a law this week that allows the governor to enter into interstate compacts for poker. Delaware will operate online poker and casino games through its powerful state lottery. Both states hope to be live later this year. The New Jersey Legislature will consider Governor Christie’s conditional veto items next week. The bill covers online poker and casino games. They are expected to pass these conditions and have the bill back to the governor by the end of the week.
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