US: Massachusetts residents may get online gambling

Today, Massachusetts lawmakers will discuss gambling expansion in the form of online lottery sales, not casino resorts. It is a change from the direction the legislators have been heading in recent years. The bill up for discussion today would allow lottery tickets to be sold over the Internet.

If approved, lawmakers estimate the online lottery sales bill could bring up to us$ 1 billion a year in revenue for the state. Other states that have gone to online sales of their state lotteries have had tremendous success in boosting sales. Massachusetts lawmakers believe the same will occur in their state.

"The idea behind it is to increase Lottery sales and generate more revenues for the commonwealth," said Senator Michael Rush' Chief of Staff John Regan, as reported by the Boston Herald. "Other states are doing it, and the senator thought it would be best to do a pilot program to see how much could be raised."

The idea that Massachusetts lawmakers would authorize online gambling before even having a land-based casino is perplexing to some residents who have been upset with the lack of progress made on the casino issue recently. House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray issued a statement this past week claiming the casino issue will again be discussed in September.

"They should be using this time to finish off the casino law," said Massachusetts resident Mark Walen. "I've been waiting twenty years for a casino in my area, and now we are so close, and they (lawmakers) are losing focus of the task. I'd love to buy lottery tickets online, but I'd rather have an outlet to play slots and cards."

Frank has been pushing online gambling regulations at a federal level, and being a liberal himself, Frank cannot understand why there is opposition from within his own party regarding the nline lottery bill. "I don't understand why liberals think they're supposed to tell people not to gamble," Frank said to the Herald. "They favor gay marriage, legalization of marijuana and sex-oriented literature, but not gambling. It's totally inconsistent. It's wrong for state and federal government to make betting a crime."

Frank, who represents Massachusetts, may have been taking a shot not only at those opposed to the online lottery, but also lawmakers who have made it difficult to pass any gambling legislation. Governor Deval Patrick, a liberal, is pushing for casino resorts, while opposing slot machines for state race tracks.