House Speaker Ron Mariano sharpened his criticism this week of the Senate’s sports betting bill that omits wagering on collegiate sports – a provision the Quincy Democrat has previously called a dealbreaker as both chambers must now negotiate their conflicting approaches.
Nearly a month after the Senate passed its sports betting bill, which contained consumer protections intended to curb problem gaming, Mariano described the legislation as “paternalistic” yet “well-intentioned.” Mariano, echoing concerns raised by sports betting and responsible gambling experts with the nonprofit Entain Foundation, said the Senate’s failure to include allowing bets on collegiate sports will only fuel activity on the black market – and prevent the Legislature from maximizing potential tax revenues.
