The Lottery wants a piece of online gaming in Massachusetts

As the industry grows with (potentially) sports betting and online gaming, the Massachusetts Lottery wants to get a cut from the expanded market.

US.- The Massachusetts Lottery managed to protect its business when casinos got legalised in 2011. Back then it accomplished to get its products available at gaming venues, but it is now facing new threats. That’s why, as lawmakers may legalise sports betting and iGaming soon, they want to expand as well.

“As we continue this discussion about other types of pathways for gambling, particularly sports betting if the commonwealth does go in that direction and if it particularly offers an online or mobile aspect to the sports betting, I think it would be fair for the Lottery, as well as fair to our casino partners, that those new providers have a similar requirement,” Mass. Lottery Executive Director Michael Sweeney said.

The 2011 legislation includes a statement from the General Court which weighs in the lottery’s importance. “Enhancing and supporting the performance of the state lottery and continuing the commonwealth’s dedication to local aid is imperative to the policy objectives of this chapter.”

“That’s the requirement that the state placed on casinos in a physical location,” Sweeney said at a speech. “I think it would be fair if we’re doing a mobile application to have similar requirements apply in the cyberspace world as we do in the physical world.”

According to the official, companies could share email addresses of customers for promotional purposes, in order to promote the Lottery. Furthermore, they’d like to have access to data analytics from online gaming platforms.

Lawmaker’s take

“Obviously, we depend greatly on the revenue that comes from the Lottery. We don’t want sports betting at all to make a dent into that,” Sen. Brendan Crighton said. “I certainly think you’ll see some energy from the Legislature to pursue both of these at the same time.”