BOSTON — Legislators are once again taking up sports betting on Beacon Hill. Thursday, they’ll be considering more than a dozen bills that could legalize gambling on sports.
According to a survey Encore Boston Harbor Casino did with Plainrdige Casino, more than half want sports betting and even more say they would support it if they knew the money would go toward supporting schools. Encore and Plainridge surveyed 500 people and found 61% support sports betting. The support for sports betting increases to 72% if the revenue helps fund K-12 education in the state. Just 14% say they strongly oppose it, the remainder were undecided.
Since the Supreme Court legalized sports gambling in 2018, 21 states have made it legal, including our neighbors New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and New York. Connecticut is on its way to doing so.
Thursday’s hearing is a continuation of when the bill was first introduced in the legislature in 2019. The bill would likely include allowing betting online and creating sportsbooks at the casinos. But lawmakers are also looking at creating a host of protections for gamblers, including online account cut-offs and a hotline for those struggling with addiction. The governor has estimated sports betting would generate $35 million annually for the state.
This will be the third time sports betting will be brought before lawmakers. If a bill were to pass this time around, it might not go into effect until this fall or some time next year.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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