Massachusetts lawmakers introduce sports betting bills in budget changes

State senators pass sports betting legislation included in the nearly 1,000 amendments filed alongside their $47.6 billion budget.

Debate on the fiscal 2022 spending plan opens May 24, according to Senate aides cited by Boston Herald.

More than a dozen lawmakers have filed bills to finally adopt a sports wagering law in Massachusetts. Senators Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, and Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, have filed competing bills to legalize sports betting. Governor Charlie Baker has signaled his support for such a measure in his January budget proposal, including a $35 million revenue line from sports gambling.

However, House lawmakers dashed most hopes the long-stalled measure might pass when they excluded it from their budget and voted to make the credit unanimous in their budget vote last month.

Senators would move the sunset date to Jan. 1, 2027, and boost eligibility criteria. Several amendments filed by Tarr would make changes to that proposal.

A recent state report questioned if the $56 million to $80 million paid out through the credit annually is worth the expense and renewed calls to end the program. Several Democratic lawmakers have expressed a will to end or amend the credit.