Senate recoils on sports betting
Photo | Courtesy of Sturbridge Agricultural and Equestrian Center, via presentation to Sturbridge Selectmen
The proposed Sturbridge Agricultural and Equestrian Center, which would have included horse racing, was voted down by the town.
Legislation to legalize wagering on sports remains "live and under active conversation and negotiation" in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, a top lawmaker said Tuesday, but that chamber's leaders remain tight-lipped about whether the bill will emerge for a floor vote before a mid-November deadline.
Sen. Eric Lesser, the Economic Development Committee co-chair who described the Senate as "ready" to act in July, on Tuesday seemed to have a different perspective, saying the Legislature historically has opted for "long debate and a very thorough debate" on gambling topics such as creation of the state lottery and legalization of resort gaming.
"We're doing our best to balance, obviously, the fun of sports betting with some of the elements that we have to keep mindful of and be mindful of when you're talking about a gambling product," Lesser said during a virtual forum hosted by the State House News Service. "Like any bill, you've got a process of working with the duly elected members of the chamber on their different issues and their concerns. When there's a consensus, when we feel like we've gotten to that point, I do feel confident that something will move forward."
The House has approved sports betting in two consecutive lawmaking sessions without the topic emerging for a vote in the Senate, leaving Massachusetts lagging behind many other states that have already authorized the industry.
How to handle wagers on college sports has been a sticking point between the House and Senate, and Lesser said lawmakers need to emphasize in their work that the field is "different" than professional sports.
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