Massachusetts Debates New Curbs On Sports Betting

A tense debate unfolded in Massachusetts as lawmakers examined stronger controls around online betting activity. Concerns from families, young bettors, and treatment advocates pushed the discussion into sharper focus during a recent committee hearing.

Good to Know

• Bill S 302 aims to ban in-game prop bets and cut sports betting ads during live broadcasts
• Regulators issued a warning on sports-related prediction markets
• Operators may face tougher financial requirements for public health funding

New Restrictions Land On The Table As Regulators Tighten Oversight

Sen. John F Keenan brought Bill S 302, known as the Bettor Health Act, to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies with a direct aim: remove in-game prop betting and limit how often viewers see betting ads during televised sports.

He said the growth of online wagering expanded far beyond the original expectations from the early legalization period. Easy access, in his view, contributed to higher levels of gambling harm, especially for younger adults who told lawmakers they felt pushed by nonstop advertising and rapid in-game markets.

The proposal would also increase operator payments into the public health trust fund. Massachusetts has generated more than 315 million dollars in tax revenue since legal betting started in early 2023, but Sen. Keenan argued that more resources are needed for prevention and treatment programs.

Regulators added more heat to the discussion when the Massachusetts Gaming Commission sent a formal notice warning operators not to offer or promote sports-related prediction markets. The MGC bars event contract trading in the state and said any attempt to introduce such products could risk license revocation. Operators now must file written compliance plans within ten business days.

The warning landed shortly after FanDuel and DraftKings shared plans to introduce event contracts in the near future, raising new questions about boundaries between sports betting and prediction markets.

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