- A newly proposed sports betting bill in Massachusetts looks to ban in-game betting and propositional bets, which includes both college and professional prop betting.
- The bill also seeks to increase Massachusetts’ sports wagering tax rate from 20% to 51%.
- Bill details include personal wagering limits and the removal of sports betting advertisements during games to protect customers.
BOSTON – Massachusetts Senator John Keenan introduced a sports betting bill that would greatly alter the betting landscape in the Bay State. Sports betting bill SD 1657, titled “An Act Addressing Economic, Health, and Social Harms Caused By Sports Betting”, aims to limit the betting markets and wagering amounts of Massachusetts sports bettors.
SD 1657 begins by implementing an amendment that states “sports betting shall include neither in-play bets nor proposition bets.” That would make Massachusetts the first state with legal sports betting to prohibit live betting, which makes up nearly half of the total sports betting handle across top US sportsbooks.
In addition to cutting out in-game betting, Keenan’s bill also seeks to remove all forms of prop betting. Most lawmakers push for just the banning of college props, but the language in this bill would also include prop betting on the NBA, NFL, and other professional sports leagues.
Massachusetts Sports Betting Bill Proposes Massive Tax Increase
Perhaps the most alarming detail of the Massachusetts sports betting bill is the 155% increase on the sports betting tax rate, bringing it from 20% to 51%. That increase would put Massachusetts up with New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island as the states with the highest sports betting taxes in the country.
Keenan cited that operators have been more successful than anticipated in Massachusetts and should be taxed at a higher rate. This same tax rate increase proposal back at the Senate’s budget meeting for fiscal year 2025 was shut down resoundingly.
Customer Betting Limits + Protection From Advertisements Also Mentioned
Other key details of the legal sports betting bill aim to protect the bettor and implement responsible wagering. Section 4 says the bill will prohibit people from betting more than $1,000 per day and $10,000 per month without a sports betting operator performing an affordability check. Wagers are also limited to 15% of a bettor’s bank account that’s linked with the sportsbook.
Another protective measure includes the removal of sports betting advertisements on “deceptive acts” like promotional bonuses, “risk-free” wagers, and other ads during games.
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News tags: John Keenan | Massachusetts | SD 1657

Zach graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Writing, Editing, and Media. Zach is interested in the legalization aspect of sports betting and enjoys participating in DFS. He has a passion for sports writing and most enjoys writing about football and baseball both professional and collegiate.