Amendment #7 to H3977

Commission to Study the Feasibility of Sports Betting at Retail Locations

Representatives Soter of Bellingham, Muradian of Grafton and Dooley of Norfolk move to amend the bill by striking in Section 4, lines 757 - 768 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

There shall be established a commission to study and report on the feasibility of allowing retail locations in the commonwealth to operate sports wagering kiosks.

The commission shall consist of the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies or designees, who shall serve as the co-chairs; the president of the senate or a designee; the house minority leader or a designee; the senate minority leader or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts retailers association or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts restaurant association or a designee; a representative from national federation of independent business; a minority business owner to be selected by the attorney general; a minority business owner to be selected by the state treasurer; a minority business owner to be selected by the Governor; and the president of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts or a designee.

The commission shall (1) study the economic impact that sports wagering will have on retail establishments, particularly those that serve alcohol; (2) study the economic impact that allowing retail establishments to offer sports wagering kiosks would have on the state and small business; (3) review the structure and efficacy of policies in other states that allow retail location to offer sports betting; (4) identify the effects that retail sports betting methods would have on public health and problem gaming; (5) identify and study how permitting sports wagering at retail establishments would impact minority businesses; (6) and issue recommendations regarding how the state could best permit and regulate sports wagering at retail establishments.

The commission shall submit a final report with its findings, along with any recommendations regarding how to establish and regulate sports wagering at retail establishments in Massachusetts, to the Massachusetts gaming commission, house and senate clerks, the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies, and the chairs of the joint committee on public health, by December 31, 2023.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #7 to H3977

Commission to Study the Feasibility of Sports Betting at Retail Locations