As the Massachusetts legislature begins debate on a $42.7 billion budget, leaders of the House have indicated that amendments having to do with legalization of sports betting will not be considered at this stage. They want to wait until later in the session for that, and for any discussions of new or increased taxes, or online lottery sales.
The Senate will begin discussing the budget next month.
Governor Charlie Baker’s proposed budget includes $35 million in estimated revenue from sports betting. He also proposed a sports betting bill in January. In the Bay State governors are allowed to introduce bills directly.
His bill would allow the state’s three casinos to offers sports book onsite and online. It would also allow daily fantasy sports operators including the homegrown DraftKings to take bets on professional sports.
The governor wants to move quickly, House Speaker Robert DeLeo is less in a hurry. DeLeo was a strong supporter of the bill that authorized the three casinos and one slots parlor, but he wants more discussion on sports betting. He has also said that legalizing sports betting won’t be as simple, “as some people think it may be.”
The Speaker and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Aaron Michlewitz say they are open to taking up revenue measures later in the session, but they want full vetting by committee first.
