With Pennsylvania the only state with a chance to pass iGaming regulations in 2016, some states are already looking forward to next year an beyond.
One such state is Massachusetts. Earlier this month the Massachusetts Gaming Commission commissioned a panel that will study both iGaming and Daily Fantasy Sport.
The purpose of this study is to give the MGC the necessary information needed to help craft or support a future omnibus bill that could regulate most forms of online gambling in the state.
Online Gambling Study Commissioned
On September 8th, the MGC voted 4-0 to appoint Chairman Stephen Crosby to a panel that will study online gambling and DFS.
The panel will meet sometime before November 1 and has until July 31, 2017 to conduct a study and submit their findings.
The panel is expected to give their findings on a myriad of factors that include consumer protections, taxation, current online gambling products and the potential positive and negative impacts on the state
One area the panel will not explore is online lottery. A bill that would have legalized online lottery sales in MA fell short of passage in 2016 and is expected to be considered again next year regardless.
State Senator Eileen Donoghue and State Representative Joseph Wagner will lead the panel. They are the chairs of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
Also participating in the panel will be representatives for Governor Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, as well as reps for the Senate President, Senate Minority Leader, and both the House Speaker and Minority Leader.
MGC Pushing for Omnibus Solution for iGaming
The MGC is a strong proponent for the creation of an omnibus bill that would cover most forms of online gambling.
Currently, most states examining iGaming are doing so in installments. For example, Nevada has only regulated Online Poker, while New Jersey online casino games and poker.
Under an omnibus bill, the MGC could regulate any present forms of iGaming they see fit and have the authority to regulate any new forms that may arise in the future.
Back in 2015, Chairman Crosby told reporters that, “If they could craft a bill, which incorporated regulatory priorities, fundamental values, whatever, that could be applied to all of these games – e-sports, [daily fantasy sports], online poker, whatever all the new ones are – maybe then they could give it to some agency to implement, and the agency does the grunt work every six months making it apply to whatever the new technology is.”
Keep in mind that this study does not guarantee an omnibus will be filed. In fact, depending on the state of iGaming at the time, they may only recommend pursuing certain avenues such as Daily Fantasy Sports and online casino games.
Studies such as this one can go in any direction, but if the panel conducts a fair study, they should easily discover the potential positive impact of online gambling in states already regulated.
With the study not expected to conclude until the end of July 2017, we expect that MA will not become a player in iGaming regulation until 2018.