Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg believes that if state bettors can bet on sports online, they should be allowed to buy lottery tickets online as well.
Coupled with daily fantasy sports and casino competition, then it’s the right thing to do. The Legislature agreed. The lawmakers included the lottery provision along with the sports betting provision, according to State House News Service.
The House version of the economic development bill included the lottery requirement. But it was stymied by the $3 billion in tax relief within the law, and both chambers elected to leave the relief alone for now.
The House put in language to remove the prohibition that prevents the Massachusetts Lottery from selling most of its products online, an addition that Goldberg cheered. However, paralyzed by the revelation that nearly $3 billion in tax relief could be required by law and unsure how to proceed with separate tax relief measures, the House and Senate did not produce a final economic development bill by the end of July. The failure imperiled everything else contained in the packages, like online lottery authorization.
“I am pleased that the Legislature explored new ways to generate sustainable revenue for the state this session. With sports betting set to go online, I hope to work with the Legislature to hold the Lottery harmless,” Goldberg said. “Should members come back this fall to finalize the bill, I encourage them to allow the Lottery to offer products online.”
