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Lawmakers delay potential legalization of Massachusetts online casinos until 2026
A push to legalize online casinos in Massachusetts has been delayed until next year as pushback continues to grow.
Lawmakers have attempted to accelerate the legalization of online casinos in Massachusetts in recent months. That effort, though, has now been put on pause as legislators voted to delay the bill's reporting deadline to March 2026. This decision was made on the heels of state officials and powerful industry stakeholders voicing opposition and concerns regarding iGaming. The vote also creates more time for extended discussions surrounding House Bill 4431.
Lawmakers mull legalizing MA online casinos
Rep. David Muradian Jr. introduced H4431, which would carve out three online skins for each of the state's three land-based casinos. As a result, if the bill passes, Massachusetts could feature up to nine legal casino apps.
Muradian and other proponents of the bill argue that licensed casino games online could generate upward of $275 million in annual state tax revenue supporting education, local aid and responsible gaming programs.
What's more, Muradian told a joint committee last month that Massachusetts residents are already gambling online with offshore platforms that do not adhere to regulatory oversight or consumer protections. Legalizing MA online casinos would help provide more security for state residents.
Yet the efforts to legalize online casinos in the state have been met with pushback from some powerful voices.
Opponents fear MA online casinos would cannibalize other businesses
While legislators push for iGaming legalization, some significant opponents have emerged, including Wynn Resorts, which runs Massachusetts' top land-based casino in Encore Boston Harbor.
Wynn submitted testimony to lawmakers that said MA online casinos could jeopardize not only the retail facility's workforce that boasts around 3,000 employees but also the casino's $15 million in monthly tax revenue.
Simplified, Wynn wrote, online casinos in the state would cannibalize land-based operations of each of the three commercial casinos in Massachusetts, from the casino floor to hotel stays to dining and entertainment.
Similarly, state treasurer Deborah Goldberg – who chairs the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, which expects to launch internet lottery in 2026 – emphasized that MA online casinos could undercut the lottery's marketing efforts while also creating additional social risks throughout the state.
Speaking at a recent Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event, Goldberg noted that MA online casinos would have a better ability to market to customers and offer more incentives than the lottery, including offering online casino bonus codes.
Delay in online casino talks keeps hopes alive – for now
With lawmakers choosing to table the bill, it at least keeps hope alive for potential legalization in 2026. But the growing number of opponents does not portend a positive end to those efforts.
Especially when you also consider that Gov. Maura Healey has emphasized concerns with the growth of gaming and its impact on a rise in problem gambling. She suggested that legislators need to take a close look at potential consequences of expanding legalized gambling before advancing any legislation.
Along the same lines, Sen. John Keenan has also preached a more cautious approach to legalizing online casinos in Massachusetts, recommending stronger consumer protections and responsible gambling measures written into any bill that would authorize iGaming in the state.
