- The latest sports betting bill out of Massachusetts would increase the state’s sports betting tax rate to 51% and limit the type of wagers that bettors have access to.
- Massachusetts Senate Bill 302 would also impose affordability checks and increase regulation over a player’s betting amounts.
- State lawmakers must decide whether to push the bill forward by March 6.
BOSTON – A controversial sports betting bill has been introduced in the 2026 Massachusetts session that would greatly impact online sports betting in the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Senate Bill 302, introduced by Senator John Keenan, features many proposed amendments, with the focus on a legal sports betting tax hike from 20% to 51%.
That increase would match New York’s online sports betting tax rate as the highest in the U.S., which would have significant implications on operators and bettors in the state. While this is just one amendment that impacts the way players engage with online sports betting in Massachusetts, the bill also aims to change the types of available wagers in the state.
Senate Bill 302 Would Ban Live Betting And Prop Bets
Keenan’s bill would eliminate all live betting and prop betting in Massachusetts. The state already prohibits prop bets for college basketball betting and other collegiate sports, but MA S302 seeks to prohibit prop betting across the NFL, NBA, and all other markets.
“SECTION 1. Section 3 of chapter 23N, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 150, the following words:- “in-play bets, proposition bets and straight bets”, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “and straight bets; provided, however, that sports wagering shall include neither in-play bets nor proposition bets”
The tax hike and betting limitations are the most controversial aspects of MA S302, but the bill doesn’t stop there. Massachusetts Senate Bill 302 would also impose “affordability checks” by requiring state sportsbook operators to “conduct an affordability assessment of said person and determining that the daily or monthly amounts wagered do not exceed 15 percent of the amount said person has available in a bank account.”
Keenan clearly wishes to implement more responsible gambling measures in the Massachusetts online sports betting scene, pairing that amendment with an increase to the Sports Wagering Control Fund from $1 million to $2 million. This fund contributes towards research investigating if suicide attempts and self-harm are linked to sports betting.
March 6 is the key date on the calendar for MA S302, which is when lawmakers are required to make a final decision on the bill. The bill expects to cause a rift since it proposes valuable problem gambling regulation, but also could negatively impact the state’s sports betting growth due to the tax rate increase and market limitations.
