Massachusetts committee passes bill to tax sports betting at 51%
A piece of legislation that would overhaul the regulated gaming market in Massachusetts is moving forward after receiving a favorable vote by a state joint committee.
Senate Bill 302 was passed by the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on Monday by a 5-0 vote, sending it on to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.
Sen. John Keenan’s legislation is familiar to lawmakers as the bill was under consideration in the House and Senate in 2025 and carried over into this year. This week, it took its first step forward.
Coined as The Bettor Health Act, the bill aims to implement new standards in Massachusetts that address economic, health and social harms related to the availability of sports wagering. It would make sweeping changes to gambling rules related to tax rates, prop and live bets, TV advertisements, responsible gambling funds and deposit limits.
Potential major tax increase in MA
Under current Massachusetts gaming law, the state levies a 20% tax rate on gross gaming revenue for both online and retail sports wagering. Keenan’s measure proposes a significant increase in the tax rate from 20% to 51%, constituting a 155% uptick. The tax hike would put Massachusetts on the same sports betting taxation level as New York, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
In addition to increasing tax revenue for Massachusetts, SB 302 also increases funding for the Public Health Trust Fund, which backs operational and responsible gambling services for sports betting in the state. Under SB 302, the fund is set to receive $2m annually. Massachusetts currently allocates $1m annually toward the fund.
SB 302 promotes RG by requiring operators to collect anonymized player data to be used for research into "how gambling addiction develops and progresses.” Operators are also required to develop systems to detect high-risk wagering by bettors in Massachusetts.
https://sbcamericas.com/2026/03/10/massachusetts-passes-bill-overhaul-bill/