Massachusetts Residents Cross State Lines to Bet on Sports
Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and New Hampshire are some of the states with legalized sports betting. However, Massachusetts has yet to allow sports wagering within its borders. As a result, Massachusetts residents cross state lines to wager on sports.
In Salem, New Hampshire, employees of a pub are used to seeing Massachusetts residents drive across borders to wager legally on March Madness and other sports events. Likewise, according to gaming news coverage reports, local businesses welcome their guests from across the state line.
However, people from New Hampshire wonder why Massachusetts lawmakers are taking too long to legalize sports betting. In 2018, the Supreme Court overruled PASPA, which allowed states to legalize sports gambling within their territories.
Massachusetts Residents Cross State Lines
Senator Eric Lesser filed a sports betting bill. He said that there are a lot of residents wagering on sports. Also, he noted that neighboring states already have some legal sports wagering. According to pay per head reports, the bill is currently at the Ways and Means Committee. If the panel approves it, it will head to the Senate for a vote.
At present, sports betting is unregulated in the state. As a result, Massachusetts can’t tax it. Also, the state can’t ensure that sports betting is happening safely. Neighboring states have already jumped into the sports gambling bandwagon. As a result, Massachusetts residents must cross borders to wager on sporting events legally.
There’s no legal way how to be a bookie in Massachusetts at present. However, the House passed several sports betting bills. Also, Governor Charlie Baker supports its legalization. It is mind-boggling that sports gambling remains illegal in the state.
According to sportsbooks, around 27 percent of people wagering on March Madness in New Hampshire come from Massachusetts.