This week’s decision to push through legislation to legalise sports betting in the US state of Massachusetts comes as a disappointment to restaurants and bars, says WGGB/WSHM-TV through CDC Gaming Reports.
The signature of the governor is now all that is required to legalise the sector, but there is no specific mention of sports betting being available in restaurants and bars.
It won’t happen immediately, however. Only 15 online licences will initially be awarded and they will go to big bidders such as DraftKings and Fanduel.
There will also be five retail sportsbooks that will go to the three state casinos, including MGM Springfield and two racetracks.
State Senator John Velis, questioned about the street locations, said to reporters: “To me, they deserve to be part of this process and able to get some of these licences, so we created a commission.”
It will examine how sports betting could work in restaurants and bars, but it will take time. The commission has until the end of the year to report.