A piece of legislation that would overhaul the regulated gaming market in Massachusetts is moving forward after receiving a favorable vote by a state joint committee.
Senate Bill 302 was passed by the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Monday by a 5-0 vote, sending it on to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.
Sen. John Keenan’s legislation is familiar to lawmakers as the bill was under consideration in the House and Senate in 2025 and carried over into this year. This week, it took its first step forward.
Coined as The Bettor Health Act, the bill aims to implement new standards in Massachusetts that address economic, health and social harms related to the availability of sports wagering. It would make sweeping changes to gambling rules related to tax rates, prop and live bets, TV advertisements, responsible gambling funds and deposit limits.
Potential major tax increase in MA
Under current Massachusetts gaming law, the state levies a 20% tax rate on gross gaming revenue for both online and retail sports wagering. Keenan’s measure proposes a significant increase in the tax rate from 20% to 51%, constituting a 155% uptick. The tax hike would put Massachusetts on the same sports betting taxation level as New York, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
In addition to increasing tax revenue for Massachusetts, SB 302 also increases funding for the Public Health Trust Fund, which backs operational and responsible gambling services for sports betting in the state. Under SB 302, the fund is set to receive $2m annually. Massachusetts currently allocates $1m annually toward the fund.
SB 302 promotes RG by requiring operators to collect anonymized player data to be used for research into “how gambling addiction develops and progresses.” Operators are also required to develop systems to detect high-risk wagering by bettors in Massachusetts.
Keenan proposes banning props and in-play bets
As well as its responsible gambling measures, SB 302 also proposes drastic changes to how bettors in Massachusetts can wager.
It would implement an explicit ban on in-play wagering and proposition bets, requiring all licensed operators in Massachusetts to pull those markets from their platforms. The provision was included as props face scrutiny over integrity concerns after a series of gambling scandals in both pro and amateur sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker has even called for a ban on college player props.
SB 302 also places limits on how much bettors can wager in certain time frames. If signed into law, it would prohibit a person from placing more than $1,000 in wagers with an operator per day and set a limit of $10,000 in wagers per month. Operators would also be mandated to conduct affordability assessments to ensure a bettor’s daily and monthly wagers do not exceed 15% of the total money in their bank accounts.
Keenan’s deposit limit proposal comes after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission enacted new regulations in February that require operators to provide notice to bettors of any limitation activity. The first-of-its-kind regulation will go into effect on June 1.
No gambling ads during sports broadcasts
In addition, Keenan wants to change advertising rules for sports betting operators.
The bill prohibits ads related to sports wagering from being aired during a televised sporting event, although it does not specify time limits for the ban during sports broadcasts.
Keenan’s measure also makes a drastic change to how operators can promote their offerings. SB 302 would prohibit the promotion of bonus promotions, same-game parlays, odd boosts and reload bonuses. The ads would be considered unfair or deceptive acts. It also targets VIP programs, prohibiting operators, their employees, and partners from receiving “compensation for any percentage of wagers or deposits placed by a customer.”
Other lawmakers in Massachusetts are backing Keenan’s The Bettor Health Act, including Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa and Sen. Patricia Jehlen.
