Would You Believe Yet Another State Looks To Legal Online Gambling?
Added: March 6, 2017
Perhaps by this point in time the fact that another state is seriously considering the legalization of online gambling and online casino action should not be so surprising. After all, it seems like every few weeks or so another story on the major media outlets comes out about the unprecedented success of the legal online casinos in New Jersey. At the same time, don’t lose sight of the fact that there is a new administration at the federal level that seems determined to return the U.S. to prosperity no matter what. Add to that the very real fact that a number of states are looking for ways to fill in some rather gaping holes in the state annual budget and you can begin to understand the motivation behind this new push for legalization.
Thus the recent actions by the Massachusetts's state legislature to seriously consider legalizing online gambling, albeit in a smaller implementation. You see, as it stands now, at the time of this writing, the Massachusetts proposed legislation is limited to the state lottery system. That is to say, the Massachusetts state lottery could be soon available as an online option.
Take note of the source of this proposed Massachusetts legislation. It turns out that none other than State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg is behind the push to allow the Massachusetts lottery to be made available as an online option to the state’s residents. More importantly, take note that Goldberg herself has made it quite clear that her proposed legislation is all about filling a rather sizable budget gap.
At the same time, pay attention to the fact that Goldberg’s proposed online lottery legalization legislation is separate and apart from the Massachusetts current study underway concerning the viability of online casinos. You may be aware that the state has set up a Special Commission on Online Gambling, Fantasy Sports Gaming and Daily Fantasy Sports. Under the terms set up for this commission, there is an August deadline to deliver a set of recommendations to the Massachusetts legislature.
As you might well expect, there are quite a number of interested parties vying to make their opinions and recommendations known to the Commission before the recommendations are communicated to the legislature. In other words, there is quite a bit of rhetoric flying back and forth from proponents of the full legalization of online gambling as well as those that are staunchly opposed to any such action.
Bottom line, no matter what the Massachusetts legislature finally determines this year, the fact of the matter is that this is a clear indication that the full legalization of legal online gambling action in the U.S. looks to be getting closer.