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State Sen. Patrick O’Connor of Massachusetts presented compelling points on the Senate floor, advocating for crucial modifications that would enhance the compatibility between his chamber’s sports betting bill and the language adopted by the House.
Despite the fact that none of O’Connor’s amendments were accepted, he will have another opportunity to impact the process as a conference committee member tasked with resolving the discrepancies on H 3993.
O’Connor, a member of the Senate conference committee, holds favorable views on multiple positions outlined in the House bill, making him a crucial figure in the search for a compromise on Massachusetts sports betting.
During an interview with Play MA, O’Connor shared his aspirations for the conference committee and expressed the significance of legalizing sports betting to him.
O’Connor expressed his strong passion for ensuring that Massachusetts becomes the next state to legalize sports gambling. He emphasized that since joining the Legislature, he has received numerous requests from his constituents who desire the opportunity to participate in this activity. Given the increasing number of states legalizing sports betting, O’Connor believes it is crucial to act urgently and pass a bill to address this matter.
Late emergence as sports betting expert
To witness O’Connor actively engaged on the Senate floor came as a pleasant surprise. Several Massachusetts legislators had actively participated in sports betting initiatives in the past five years, but O’Connor was not one of them.
In 2021, he was not one of the 14 lawmakers who introduced sports betting bills. The only sign of his support for sports betting was in 2020, when Minority Leader Bruce Tarr attempted to include a sports betting amendment in the budget. O’Connor voiced his support for the amendment, but it ultimately failed without a roll call vote.
O’Connor stated, “I played a role in the background of sports betting. Although I didn’t propose a bill myself, I collaborated with numerous colleagues from both political parties to explore the best approaches taken by other states and determine the course of action Massachusetts should adopt. This effort ultimately prompted me to propose several amendments.”
Due to his affiliation as one of merely three Republicans in the Massachusetts Senate, he secured the minority party position in the conference committee.
O’Connor’s sports betting stances
In April, O’Connor expressed his support for Massachusetts sports betting through seven proposed amendments on the Senate floor. While three amendments were rejected, he voluntarily withdrew four of them.
These are a few of the important matters he will advocate for in the conference committee, aligning with the language used in the House.
Wagering on college sports
The Senate bill on sports betting bans bets on college sports. O’Connor proposed two amendments: one to permit betting on all college sports, and another to solely prohibit bets on colleges within the state.
O’Connor stated that excluding college sports would result in the persistence of illegal gambling activities, such as offshore and black market betting. Even if professional sports were legalized, individuals would still place bets on events like March Madness and college football using unregulated methods. O’Connor believes that denying the inclusion of college sports would be unfair to individuals who may face gambling addiction issues but are not benefiting from the protective measures provided by the state.
According to O’Connor, if Massachusetts decides to prohibit college sports, there will be a decrease of 25% in anticipated revenue. The House bill permits betting on all college sports but disallows prop bets involving college athletes.
O’Connor stated that a legalized college sports betting market is not only a safer option but also a more lucrative one for the commonwealth.
O’Connor acknowledges that he will allow college sports betting, with the exception of in-state college teams, but he does not view it as the optimal choice.
In March, he remembered going to the Atlantic-10 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Washington, D.C. He noticed that Caesars Sportsbook by William Hill was accessible online at Capital One Arena. Nevertheless, the sports betting law in D.C. prohibits placing bets on college events that take place within the District.
However, he could easily place bets on the tournament by simply taking a short ride of under 15 minutes to the MGM National Harbor casino in Maryland. He hopes that Massachusetts does not adopt a similarly irrational policy.
O’Connor mentioned that living in Somerset allows someone to be just minutes away from driving into Rhode Island and placing a bet on a Massachusetts college team.
Allowing wagering on esports and Olympics
O’Connor proposed amendments that would permit wagering on esports and amateur sports events, particularly emphasizing the Olympics, provided that the majority of participants are above 18 years old.
His argument for Olympics betting is identical to his argument for college sports.
O’Connor stated that despite the law’s prohibition on betting on amateur events like the Olympics, bettors in Massachusetts will persist in wagering on these events.
He observes the rising popularity of betting on video game competitions within the esports industry. The House bill specifically permits the practice of wagering on esports.
According to O’Connor, esports became a significant platform for gambling during the pandemic when all other options were unavailable.
Eliminating the advertising ban
The new addition to the Senate bill is an unprecedented prohibition on the broadcasting of sports betting advertisements during live game broadcasts.
O’Connor made a case on the Senate floor to eliminate the ban, while Sen. Michael Rodrigues, the conference committee chair, advocated for its inclusion.
According to O’Connor, after the Senate passage, conference committee members have received numerous appeals from Boston sports stations, stating that the ban should be lifted.
O’Connor stated that numerous organizations, particularly broadcasters, have expressed concerns about potentially losing substantial profits if the provision is included in the final bill. However, O’Connor personally finds it difficult to comprehend how such implementation would be feasible.
Will Massachusetts legalize sports betting in 2022?
According to O’Connor, informal discussions on sports betting have commenced among conference committee members.
O’Connor expressed his belief that both Senate and House legislative leaders are determined to make this a reality. He further added that he believes they now recognize the urgency of implementing this, given the considerable delay thus far.
With the completion of the budget proposals by each chamber, there is an anticipation for the sports betting discussions to intensify in the coming weeks.
However, he anticipates that a verdict will not be reached until July 31, which serves as the final day for passing any bill that necessitates a roll call vote. The initiation of a roll call can be prompted by a single individual, and O’Connor is confident that this will occur in the case of sports betting.
According to O’Connor, Beacon Hill has a reputation for resolving conference committees on the final day of the session. However, it should be noted that a significant amount of work is already accomplished leading up to that point, so it’s not as if everything is left until the last day.
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