Massachusetts bill proposes to legalise online casinos and ban sweepstakes
House Bill 4431 is under review by the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
US.- Massachusetts Rep. David Muradian has introduced House Bill 4431, which seeks to legalise online casino gaming and ban online sweepstakes games. The proposal is under review by the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
If approved, the bill would establish a new legal framework for online-based slot machines, table games, poker and live dealer games, which would be overseen by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The Massachusetts casinos Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park would be allowed to apply for a licence.
According to the proposal, licences would be valid for five years, with application fees of $100,000 and $50,000 for each additional skin. Operators would pay a 15 per cent tax on gaming revenue.
The bill would create a Player Health Programme to increase public awareness of problem gambling. As for sweepstakes, the bill would make it illegal to “operate, conduct, or promote online sweepstakes games in the commonwealth.”
Massachusetts gaming revenue increases in July
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has reported that Plainridge Park Casino (PPC), MGM Springfield (MGM), and Encore Boston Harbor (EBH) generated $99.5m in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in July. That’s a rise of 1.8 per cent from June.
Encore Boston Harbor reported $60.1m in GGR, with $22.6m from table games and $37.5m from slots. MGM Springfield generated $24m, with $4,6m from table games and $19.3m from slots, and Plainridge Park Casino took $15.3m from slots.
