Massachusetts sports betting might look totally various if a new bill proposed in the Senate achieves success. And if history is any indicator, controlled sports betting in other states could also alter significantly.

SD 1657 existed by Sen. John Keenan. "An Act Addressing Economic, Health, and Social Harms Caused by Sports Betting" aims to increase the existing sports betting tax rate from 20% to 51%. Additionally, Sen. Keenan calls for a total restriction on live betting (in-game wagering) and prop bets.

The main point to keep in mind is that Massachusetts has actually been at the leading edge of more stringent sports betting guidelines. The 2nd thing to know is that the language of this bill is similar to the SAFE Bet Act, a federal piece of legislation introduced in 2024.

This costs was introduced not long after previous Massachusetts Governor and existing NCAA president Charlie Baker affirmed in front of the Senate in a meeting on sports betting regulation.

So, while this is presently a Massachusetts bill, it's likely to impact other states that provide regulated sports betting.

A closer look at SD 1657

Tax

Beginning with the tax rate boost, bringing sports betting to 51% has actually been a target for Sen. Keenan before. Keenan proposed a tax boost at the last legal session, however it was turned down. This increase would have been available in the state's budget bill.

Only three markets have tax rates of 51%, the highest in the country: New York, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. At 20%, Massachusetts currently ranks 6th greatest.

Prohibiting live betting and prop betting

The step forbids in-play (live betting) or prop betting. Just straight wagers would be enabled, restricting sportsbooks to providing only moneyline, spread, and overalls.

While Massachusetts and other markets have restrictions on college betting, this would impact even professional sporting events.

The expense also seeks to include rewards and same-game parlays to the classification of "unreasonable and misleading practices." Sportsbooks favour same-game parlays due to their high "hold" percentage, the amount of money they keep off each $1 bet.

Player Limits

SD 1657 likewise intends to develop obligatory daily and regular monthly limits for bettors. Bettors might not wager more than $1,000 a day and $10,000 a month without an 'cost evaluation' which involves checking bank accounts. A player can not wager more than 15% of the amount in their account.

Massachusetts would become the very first market to need a price assessment on bettors.

Marketing restrictions

Keenan also wants to eliminate advertising during telecasted sporting events. The measure would restrict sportsbooks from running ads throughout video games. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has looked into producing a ban on in-game ads before. However, this did not go through as nationwide TV offers make this hard to enforce.

Will the measure pass?

The procedure is extreme in its modifications to the sports betting industry in Massachusetts. Banning prop betting and increasing the sports betting tax rate will likely result in pushback from local sportsbooks and industry advocates.

Because of this, the procedure will likely be combated in the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the previous session, Keenan failed to raise the tax rate.

He would need to persuade the other senators who did not support his initiative before to alter their minds. If and when the Senate discusses this measure, it is difficult to inform how it will be gotten.