SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Eric Lesser said the time has arrived not only for sports betting in the Commonwealth but also additional discussion about increased passenger rail in light of a new study.

Many of our neighboring states in the Northeast are developing sports betting and Lesser said the Legislature is now considering the several different bills to establish the enterprise here.                     

Lesser appeared on Focus Springfield’s “Government Matters” recently speaking about many of the issues facing the legislature this session.

He noted that Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York all have their own sports betting programs and Connecticut is next.

“I personally think we’ve learned a lot over the past three years, we know what’s works and what doesn’t. I think it’s time to legalize, in a limited way for now, sports betting both online … but also obviously to do it in person,” he said.

Lesser noted there are “a lot” of proposals on the table but there are also many issues that need to be reserved from the scope of what can be the subject of the wagers to the tax structure of the betting.

He explained Rhode Island runs its program through the state lottery and had a huge payout over betting on the most recent Patriot’s appearance in the Superbowl.

“They didn’t manage the risk,” he explained, and the state lost money.

Lesser said the Commonwealth could see a finished bill by the end of the year, but the many proposals means a political compromise must be achieved.

One thing that does concern him, he said, is the effect on the Massachusetts Lottery. Since part of sport betting is an on-line component, Lesser believes the lottery should be able to have on-line products as well. He predicted a digital lottery will be part of the future.

“At this point we’re not pulling things out of thin air, We have other states to look at,” he emphasized.

Among the differences in the bill is just what sports would be included: collegiate or professional or both. Lesser noted that his bill agrees with Gov. Charlie Baker’s legislation. They both just want to see betting on professional sports.

He believes the salaries of professional athletes and the fact many are presented by unions with collective bargaining as well as team owners asking for sports betting as a way to give another experience to their fans, gives professional teams “a lot of protection.”

He said, “For me, pro sports makes sense.”

He acknowledged the excitement that March Madness brings as well as the college bowl games, but the issue he said is “Where do you draw the line?”

Some states are now allowing people to bet on “e-sports” – video game competitions, Lesser said. Another question is should the public be allowed to legally bet on the Olympics, he added.

“There’s a lot to unpack,” he concluded.

With money for expanded rail in President Joseph Biden’s infrastructure bill, Lesser believes the possibility of federal funding as well as a new study for passenger rail for the region helps the cause for the proposed transportation system.

Lesser has led the discussion about expanded rail in the Bay State.

A recent study by the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) – in consultation with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC). The study advances the idea that additional rail service is an important part of job development in the future. “Together, these two outcomes ­– the gradual attraction of 20,000-40,000 “missing” professional service jobs and the construction of station-area development – account for an estimated $47 to $84 billion in directly generated regional GDP over 30 years, including $27 to $48 billion in wages. An additional $15 to $21 billion of indirect and induced GDP is estimated as well,” the study reported.

Lesser praised the report for looking at the economic impact of expanded rail, something the two-year, $1 million MassDOT report did not do.

Lesser asserted the need for rail can be seen in the Boston-New York air route which he called “completely clogged” due to high demand and more capacity cannot be added.

He also said the same thing of the Boston to New York Acela Amtrak rail route and more trains can’t be added.

“Not only are you connecting Springfield to Boston, you’re connecting Worcester to New York City by rail, which right now it isn’t. Not only are you connecting Hartford to Boston by rail, which right now it isn’t. You’re essentially doubling the capacity of transit from Boston to New York and vice versa. By the way that will take people out of planes, which helps reduces carbon emission, It will take people out of their cars which will help reduce congestion and carbon emission and it’s going to bring tens of thousands of people through Springfield because the interchange will be in Springfield for both east-west traffic going to Boston and north-south traffic going to Hartford, New Haven and New York City. It will be transformational,” Lesser said.

Considering the environmental and health impacts from rail, Lesser said it is “troubling frankly we don’t see the governor focused on this more or engaged on it more.”

For the entire interview, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=getisZ0k6k4&t=319s.