Section 23: Annual research agenda to understand social and economic effects of sports wagering
Section 23. (a) The commission shall develop an annual research agenda in order to understand the social and economic effects of sports wagering in the commonwealth and to obtain scientific information relative to the neuroscience, psychology, sociology, epidemiology and etiology of sports wagering. The secretary of health and human services, with the advice and consent of the commission, may expend funds from the Public Health Trust Fund established in section 58 of chapter 23K to implement the objectives of the sports wagering research agenda, provided, however, that the objectives of the sports wagering research agenda shall, to the extent practicable, be substantially similar to the objectives of the research agenda established under section 71 of said chapter 23K. The sports wagering research agenda shall also include, but not be limited to: (i) an assessment of whether problem sports wagering is comorbid with problem gambling; (ii) an assessment as to whether the individuals participating in sports wagering are different than those who participate in other forms of gaming or gambling; (iii) an assessment of the impact of sports wagering on youth under the age of 25; (iv) an assessment of the impacts of sports wagering on college athletics and professional sports; and (v) the costs of implementing this chapter.
(b) Annually, the commission shall make scientifically-based recommendations that reflect the results of the research under clause (a) to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the senate and house committees on ways and means, the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies, the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the joint committee on public health. The commission shall consider any such recommendations, research and findings in all decisions related to enhancing responsible gambling and mitigating problem sports wagering. The recommendations shall be posted on the commission's website.