Sports Betting Is Legalized in Massachusetts, but the Benefits Are Uncertain

Massachusetts legalized sports betting this summer. Rachel Volberg is the principal investigator with Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts. She has been doing this work since 2013. Her team was selected a decade ago to research the potential impacts of casinos. The study contends that direct economic impacts will depend on shifting spending from the illegal to legal market. It also claims that sports gambling will redistribute money already in the economy rather than attracting new money from outside Massachusetts and will not attract new people. The report is first of its kind in America. There are only two or three economic studies.

Sports betting is legalized in Massachusetts. The benefits of sports betting are uncertain.

Sports Betting is Legalized in Massachusetts. The most optimistic scenario for sports betting tax revenues in the state is about $60 million.

There is a significant increase in sports betting since 2018. The National Council on Problem Gambling reports that it has also reported an increase of people saying they had experiences with one or more impacts or harms. The Gaming Commission in Massachusetts has already implemented measures to try to minimize and mitigate harm. Behavioral health expert Alisha Khouri-Boucher believes young people may see an increased problem with sports gambling. She believes it is more about the behavior than the access. Sports betting appeals most to young, well-educated men. SEIGMA’s study notes that sports betters are mostly college-age people.

The report will help the MGC regulate sports-wagering industry in the Commonwealth.

SEIGMA recommends issuing licenses for online operators. Most sports betting is done online. The Gaming Commission's plans line up with SEIGma's report. MGM Springfield Sports Lounge opened in August 2021. It features more than 70 lounge seats and a 45-foot state-of-the-art HD viewing wall. A new VIP Sports lounge opened last August within TAP Sports Bar. It offers a more intimate experience. As soon as MGM gets the green light, it will incorporate BetMGM platform into its property. Massachusetts residents are already driving across the border to Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and New York to place bets.