Massachusetts’ Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies held a hearing Thursday on legislation that would bring online casino gaming to the state, with proponents arguing the bill would regulate an activity already happening through illegal offshore sites.
Rep. David Muradian Jr., author of House Bill 4431, told the committee that Massachusetts residents are gambling online without any oversight.
"There are no consumer protections, no responsible gaming standards, and the bill will change that,” Muradian said at the hearing.
The legislation would allow the state’s existing licensed casino operators to offer online casino games under Massachusetts Gaming Commission regulation. It would establish a 15% tax on adjusted gross internet gaming revenue, with Muradian noting the money would fund "education, local aid and responsible gaming program dollars rather than being lost to said black unregulated markets.”
John Pappas, a gambling consultant, presented data showing the scope of illegal online gambling in the state.
"Residents conducted more than 250,000 monthly searches for online casino and poker content, and that’s resulted in 1.2 million visits to illegal online casino sites just here in the state every single month,” Pappas said.
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