Massachusetts earns a D in new online gambling rankings
Massachusetts received a D grade in a new report evaluating online gambling protections, alongside failing grades for other New England states.Summary
A new report card on online gambling protections from the Center for Addiction Science, Policy, and Research (CASPR) gave Massachusetts a D, with all New England states receiving failing grades. The rankings assess states based on permitted gambling, protections in place, and taxation. Massachusetts earned some credit for banning credit card funding, offering a problem gambling hotline, and funding related messaging, but was penalized for lacking mandatory loss limits, allowing in-game live betting, and not requiring operators to intervene with high-risk users. Researchers found that over half of sports betting revenue comes from problem gamblers, and that mobile, in-game betting is linked to compulsive behavior. Two bills are currently under consideration in Massachusetts: one to legalize online casino gambling, and another, the “My Better Health Act,” to impose stricter regulations on sports betting, including banning in-play bets and increasing taxes.
(Source：Boston.com)