Massachusetts will take its time, but it’s possible sports betting could begin by the Super Bowl – The Boston Globe

LAS VEGAS — Honk all you’d like, however Massachusetts isn’t budging out of its slow-and-cautious lane in the case of launching sports activities betting.

Even at this week’s International Gaming Expo, the place distributors, on line casino executives, and operators have gathered to marvel at and extol the newest, loudest, and shiniest playing gadgets, developments, and issues, Massachusetts arrives with a way of crafting a protected and consumer-friendly invoice moderately than prioritizing velocity.

It took Massachusetts greater than 4 years to turn out to be the thirty sixth state within the nation to legalize sports activities playing (which it did in August), and, finest case, regulators on the Massachusetts Gaming Fee are nonetheless months away from finalizing the small print.

That would imply the second half of January at casinos and early March for on-line betting.

“There’s not an enormous accountable gaming presence right here, however in different conferences I’ve participated in, Massachusetts has constantly been held up because the gold commonplace for accountable gaming at brick-and-mortar casinos,” mentioned Nakisha Skinner, one of many 5 MGC commissioners liable for overseeing, vetting, and ultimately approving the laws wanted earlier than a launch.

“The place I believe the fee can adapt the insurance policies in place for accountable gaming at casinos to the sports activities wagering enviornment, I believe it is going to accomplish that.”

So does Casey Clark, senior vp of the American Gaming Affiliation, which hosts the expo and is the nationwide commerce group of the on line casino trade.

“My expertise with the MGC is that they’ve at all times been actually good companions, they’ve labored nicely and collaboratively with the trade,” mentioned Clark, who added that was particularly so on the accountable gaming entrance.

“They’re very lively and concerned in that, and have been for a few years, so this isn’t new to them. It’s not posturing simply round sports activities betting, it truly is essential to them. However I believe that’s true for regulators in all places.”

After a protracted dialogue final week, the MGC agreed to the January-March timeline that even informal sports activities followers acknowledge syncs up with the Tremendous Bowl and March Insanity.

The vote was 4-0, with Skinner abstaining, a mirrored image of her being uncomfortable tying a timeline that includes so many technical points — particularly round nonetheless new and unknown on-line points — to sporting occasions.

“I’m not naive, I do wish to be conscious of our sports activities followers, I do wish to be responsive and respectful to the parents who need this, however I believe there must be a steadiness to guard these very patrons,” mentioned Skinner.

“Can we get all of that carried out between now and the Tremendous Bowl or between now and March Insanity? Arguably, the reply to that query is sure, for retail, as a result of we all know who we’re working with already; these are present licenses. However once we’re speaking about cell purposes, once more that’s a unique ballgame.”

The MGC nonetheless has to work by points, together with doable restrictions on promoting and in-game betting, mentioned Clark.

“Individuals in Massachusetts have been betting on sports activities for a very very long time, and folks within the area are betting on sports activities, some legally,” he mentioned. “What we’re enthusiastic about is bringing individuals into the authorized market and having them contained in the tent with the correct of shopper protections that solely exist there.

“I believe it’s going to proceed to be attention-grabbing to see what occurs. We’ve received many clear opinions about not placing restrictions in place that’ll preserve individuals within the unlawful market.”

The AGA voiced willpower right here to use stress to carry unlawful betting operators to their monetary knees and direct the estimated $150 billion guess illegally annually into authorized operators’ coffers. With that comes a associated effort by the trade to prioritize accountable gaming, a recognition that state lawmakers have issues in that space.

These issues generally take work and particularly time earlier than they’re eradicated.

Michael Silverman could be reached at michael.silverman@globe.com. Observe him on Twitter: @MikeSilvermanBB.