Sports Betting in Massachusetts; Helping or Hurting?

 By: Matthew Mitchell

Sports betting is not a good bet for Massachusetts, especially for college students who might think that some small bets on the side are no big deal. 

With sports betting making a push in Massachusetts, is it wanted or needed by residents of the state? 

“I would probably not participate, because I don’t know much about sports and I don’t want to lose my money,” Lydia Chmielowiec, a student at Stonehill College, said. 

She’s not the only one who feels that way.  

“I don’t want to because it can lead to crippling debt and I don’t want to be in that position where I owe a lot of money,” Shannon Sousa, a student at Stonehill College, said. 

On the opposite side of the country, voters in California did not support a proposed bill to legalize sports gambling throughout the state. 

What are the pros and cons of sports betting, especially when it comes to the future of sports betting in Massachusetts? 

Some of the main pros of sports betting are that people can bet against the house, against each other, or together which supplies an element of fun, and, for many, supplies little to no risk if betting is regulated, according to Kindbridge, a behavioral health website focused on gambling. 

The cons of sports betting can be just as devastating as the pros are positive. The main problem with sports betting is that it's just like gambling in a casino except you can gamble from home as well. This allows money to slip away because some become addicted to the thrill of sports betting and this can lead to a deterioration in relationships, finances, mental, and physical health, according to Kindbridge.  

“There will be a large spike in harm once sports betting becomes fully legal which will eventually dip down and straighten out over time, how much time it will take to slow down is unknown. An example of this curve is Covid, the initial spike of fear and exposure was high and now the world’s almost returned to normal in many ways. I think that while sports gambling will reach its peak of harmfulness or harm, it will only trend down until it reaches a somewhat straight line,” Dr. Nathan D.L Smith, executive director of the Kindbridge institute and a Massachusetts native, said 

Massachusetts is still exploring options for the launch of sports betting across the state, which could come sooner than expected. 

As of November 17, Massachusetts was on schedule to launch sports betting in casinos in January and go online through sites in March, according to Legal Sports Report. 

This plan was set into motion because Governor Charlie Baker signed the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act on August 10, according to the bill passed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

This law will consist of licenses for online gambling and in-casino betting. The state will charge taxes on any sports bets, 15% for casino betting or in-person betting and 20% for online betting, according to the bill passed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

Across the country, as of November 18, $165,671,540,498 - or about $510 per person in the U.S. - has been wagered on sports bets since June 2018. Of that number, $12,413,582,439 - or about $38 per person in the U.S. - has been returned to sports betting sites with $2,003,495,309 - about $6 per person in the U.S. - going towards state and federal government, according to figures done by Legal Sports Report.  

With the future of gambling in Massachusetts on the way as soon as March, how are people preparing for it, and did people want sports gambling in the first place? 

“I wouldn’t aggressively participate but on occasion I might dabble in a few sports bets from time to time, but only small bets.” James Gibbons, a student at Stonehill College, said. 

However, there are others that feel even stronger about sports betting. 

“I think it’s needed, it brings people together, whether you have the same spread or moneyline. You can root for the same team or the same bet together,” Emerson Gomez, a senior at Stonehill College, said.  

While there are some people who are looking forward to sports betting coming to Massachusetts, what about people that already bet on sports in states where it is legal? 

“I placed a few bets when I was out in Montana working. I am a major fan of combat sports, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, known as the UFC, and I placed a couple of bets on the big cards when I was out in Montana. I think that sports betting would do great and should be instituted in Massachusetts, I have been saying that for a long time,” Anthony Coletti, a Massachusetts native, said.