Massachusetts House of Representatives Speaker Ron Mariano has disclosed that State House and Senate negotiators are “far apart” in discussions on the legalisation of sports betting.
The Senate approved the bill to legalise sports betting in April 2022, with the final decision to be determined by a vote in the House of Representatives.
One point of contention is the inclusion of betting on college sports, which was included in the House’s Bill but rejected by the Senate. Mariano predicted that state revenue from sports betting would drop from $60m to $25m if college sports wagering is not included.
Speaking to reporters, Mariano said: “I’m reluctant to turn over college sports to the black market. I’ve had that position since the beginning. If we’re going to do this, I think there’s an opportunity to include college sports rather than let it be only handled by bookies.