Group seeks to bring sports betting to lottery agents

Feb. 14, 2019 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Fair Play logo
Reminder Publishing submitted photo.

GREATER SPRINGFIELD – With the Supreme Court ruling last year striking down laws against sports betting, several states swung into action to capitalize on an activity that has been going on underground for decades.

Massachusetts is now considering its entry into sports betting and while the Legislature is beginning to consider an approach, one grassroots group is hoping to make sports betting as easy as playing Keno.

Fair Play Massachusetts is attempting to convince members of the General Court that sports betting should be an option anywhere Keno is being played: bars, convenience stores and restaurants.

Ryan McCollum, the spokesperson for the group, told Reminder Publishing, “The more we speak to folks, bar owners, lottery agents, more and more agree.” He added, “We haven’t met anyone yet who doesn’t like the idea.”

The effort to recruit business owners who sell lottery products has started in Western Massachusetts and is building toward Boston, McCollum said. In turn, members of the group are asked to speak to their senators and representatives.

Bill Stetson who owns both The Rumbleseat and the Collegiate Court in Chicopee issued the following statement, “Sports betting isn’t for everybody, nor is it for every keno operator, but having the option will help some places retain and attract clientele. Small businesses like mine are being hit with more costs due to health care and a new rise in the minimum wage. This is an easy ‘two birds with one stone’ way to help lessen the blow to a segment of small local businesses all while raising more needed revenue.”

Joe Sullivan of Nathan Bill’s in Springfield said, “If it is going to be legalized why not allow us to take wagers? The technology is there with the infrastructure the Lottery has now. Giving our adult patrons a safe and legal place to maybe throw down a little on a game while also enjoying the game at our establishment will help us in a big way.”

Meanwhile Gov. Charlie Baker announced last month his own bill on sports betting. According to the press release from the governor’s office, “The administration’s proposal would authorize the MGC (Massachusetts Gaming Commission) to issue newly-created sport wagering licenses to the current Category 1 resort casino licensees (MGM-Springfield and Encore-Everett) as well as the Category 2 licensee (Plainridge). A current gaming license would be required to operate an onsite sports wagering lounge.”

The press release continued, “Separate from existing Category 1 and Category 2 licensees, the administration’s proposal also allows for unaffiliated entities to conduct online only sports wagering. Online only operators would need to be fully qualified and licensed by the MGC as a sports wagering licensee under the current process set forth by the Expanded Gaming Statute.”

Baker believes his approach would generate $35 million in revenue in fiscal year 2020.

The Legislature will be working on its own versions of laws establishing sports betting.

So far, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, New Mexico and Rhode Island have active sports wagering programs. Besides the discussion in Massachusetts starting, New Hampshire and Connecticut are also expected to file legislation.

McCollum believes the governor’s proposal of keeping sports betting at the casinos and on-line pits small business people against large well-funded organizations. “Guys shouldn’t have to drive to Springfield or Everett,” McCollum asserted. “They should be able to ho to a local sports bar, buy a pizza and a beer and watch the game.”

He added that different states have different systems with varying levels of technical sophistication. McCollum said many people in Fair Play Massachusetts group believe “the best way is to have an interaction person to person.”

McCollum said the group has been paying close attention to the program in the District of Columbia where the legislation there allows people to wager at sports venues, restaurants and liquor stores and from anywhere in the city with a cell phone app.

He added, “This is about four simple things: revenue, jobs, fairness and safety. Each year the Commonwealth, along with our 351 cities and towns, are trying to find new revenue streams. Allowing some current Keno operators to take sports bets would increase the amount of revenue the state receives above and beyond just having bets made in casinos and online. The best part: it keeps the money to local. Granting people in our bars and restaurants the ability to bet helps their local economy and, in turn, generates more money for small businesses to create more jobs. Limiting the brick and mortar places to bet to just casinos and online is patently unfair to those who want to partake in an activity that is now legal, but don’t want to download an app connected to their credit card or bank account. Or, they don’t live in areas of the state that are close to casinos. Lastly, the more places where a person can safely and legally place a sports wager, the more it will negatively impact the unregulated and unsafe world of black market sports books.”

People who want to be involved or have questions are asked to email them at fairplaymass@gmail.com or like the page on Facebook and contact them there.

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