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Describing the journey of Massachusetts sports betting legislation as merely a wild ride would be an immense understatement.
In the previous week, the already unclear situation surrounding sports betting became even more convoluted. The chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee initially expressed support for sports wagering in the state, but later retracted his statement just three days afterwards.
Since the summer of 2021, the sports wagering bill has been in limbo under the chairmanship of Michael J. Rodrigues.
Why Rodrigues’ comments are frustrating
The Massachusetts House made a significant move in July 2021 by passing a sports betting bill with an impressive vote of 156-3. This strong support suggested that the bill had a promising chance of reaching the desk of Gov. Charlie Baker. This is particularly favorable as Baker is an advocate for sports betting in Massachusetts.
Following the vote, the bill transitioned from the House to the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee. This committee consists of legislators who deliberate and make decisions on financial affairs related to the state. Among the numerous bills awaiting consideration by the committee, one of them is S269, titled “An Act to establish sports wagering in the Commonwealth.” S269 has been under the committee’s review since July 21, 2021, along with a backlog of around twelve bills from that date and earlier.
According to the records of the Ways and Means Committee, there has been no progress made on the bill. The most recent action recorded states that the bill was referred to the Ways and Means Committee on that particular date.
Why is Massachusetts taking so long on sports betting legislation?
The delay in progress can be attributed in part to certain lawmakers who are indecisive. Rodrigues serves as a prime illustration of this ambivalence. At the beginning of this month, he expressed being “fine” with the sports betting bill. However, just three days later, he revised his statement, explaining that he was “fine with how the process was proceeding,” rather than expressing support for a specific bill or the overall legalization of sports betting.
Rodrigues’ backtrack further tarnishes the already messy path of Massachusetts’ sports betting judiciary journey, adding yet another stain to the tangled web.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to remember that the committee’s lack of progress on the sports betting bill is not the only issue at hand. In fact, the committee has not held a hearing on any bills since June 2021, and their upcoming hearings schedule remains completely vacant with no plans for the foreseeable future.
Lawmakers vent as sports wagering languishes in committee
In the realm of lawmaking known as the Ways and Means committee, there has been a complete absence of any form of action. Individuals who were anticipating progress on the bill have instead been met with deafening silence resembling a chorus of crickets.
Nevertheless, the activity occurring outside the arena has offered a captivating break amidst the prevailing atmosphere of quiet procession.
According to House Speaker Ron Mariano, in an interview with Bloomberg Baystate Business, he expressed his belief that the state is losing significant revenue due to the sluggish progress of lawmakers on the bill.
“By stubbornly refusing to take up the bill, we are missing out on a significant amount of money, and it is incredibly frustrating,” expressed Mariano. “I believe our bill is well-crafted and I am open to negotiations. However, it is important to remember that negotiation requires the participation of both parties.”
Senator Walter Timilty appeared on Baystate Business with Mariano to share his perspectives, which echoed the frustrations conveyed by Mariano in his statements.
“The Senate operates similarly to the House of Representatives, where it is the responsibility of the Senate president to introduce legislation for voting on the Senate floor,” Timilty explained. “We remain optimistic that the Senate president will prioritize bringing this legislation up for a vote within the present year.”
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