Lawmakers pushed the reporting deadline on a pair of bills that would legalize online gaming in Massachusetts to March 16.
Lawmakers seek more time to debate the issue amid questions from the state’s governor and treasurer, who have raised concerns about problem gambling.
Republican David Muradian’s H4431 and Democrat Daniel Cahill’s H332 would both legalize online casino gaming, including poker. However, Cahill’s legislation would only allow the state’s three existing land-based casinos to operate online gambling platforms.
On the other hand, Muradian’s bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Representatives, would set the tax rate at 15% and licensees could contract with up to three online gaming companies. The bill would also ban sweepstakes casinos.
“Realistically, the process to pass iGaming could take a few years,” Muradian told PlayUSA earlier in 2025. “We did casinos, we did sports wagering, we did iLottery. The logical progression is to look at how we can potentially legalize iGaming, especially when our neighboring states of Connecticut and Rhode Island are already doing it.”
Plans Face Opposition
Despite having casinos involved in the process, Wynn Resorts has come out against the plan. The company operates Encore Boston Harbor, the Bay State’s top brick-and-mortar casino, and recently submitted testimony against legalized online gaming.
Company officials claimed the platforms would siphon gaming revenue from land-based casinos.
State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg has also raised concerns about online casinos. She chairs the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, which is set to launch online lottery sales in the third quarter of 2026. Those sales could be hampered by competition from online gaming, Goldberg argues, and also increase problem gambling.
Gov. Maura Healey also said she was worried that iGaming could increase problem gambling in the commonwealth. She has called for more regulatory oversight in the legislation.
A Plus For Poker
With a population of 7.1 million people, adding Massachusetts to the country’s Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement could give a nice boost to online poker.
There are currently six states participating in the agreement:
- Delaware
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
Connecticut is considering joining the agreement in 2026.
Several other states are also contemplating online casinos. A bill was introduced in Illinois in May, and a key backer of iGaming believes the time could be right for legalization in New York.
