Massachusetts Legislature Effective Kills iGaming Bill, Which Will Be Resubmitted

Massachusetts hit a hard pause on a bid to legalize online casino gaming inside state lines.

The Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies unanimously voted to send H.4431 to study, essentially meaning that the bill will be reviewed during the upcoming recess period. 

The bill aimed to allow internet slot machine games, blackjack, and other common iGaming features.

Massachusetts online casino dreams over

While the bill was effectively rendered useless for the remainder of the legislative session, it can be refiled in its current form when the next one begins.

H.4431 was sponsored by Rep. David Muradian (R-Worcester). Its basic objective was to authorize the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) to regulate online casinos by allowing the state’s three retail casinos to secure approved internet gaming partners. The MGC is already in charge of the state’s sports betting, retail casino gaming, and horse racing operations.

The bill was first introduced at a committee hearing last November, where Muradian noted that black-market gambling had already consumed Massachusetts’ online industry.

“There are no consumer protections, no responsible gaming standards, and the bill will change that,” he said.

If agreed upon, the bill would permit three online casino skins for Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino. Assuming all of the opportunities were exercised, that would bring a maximum of nine regulated online casino operators into the Bay State.

Looking to the future

While the bill appears to be dead in the water this time around, Muradian told The Sun Chronicle that he plans on resubmitting the bill during the 2027-28 session.

“The momentum H 4431 created this session will hopefully serve as a springboard to future economic growth in Massachusetts, while always focusing on consumer protections and safeguards,” he said.

Several responsible gaming conditions were included in the bill, including a 24-hour $20,000 deposit limit, integrity monitoring requirements for operators, and $10,000-100,000 fines for breaches of regulations.  

The bill also included a 21-year minimum age requirement for customers, all of whom must have been inside Massachusetts territory to utilize online casinos. Operators would be required to submit 15 percent of their gross gaming revenue in the form of state taxes.

Only eight states legalized online casinos, and only seven markets are operational. However, legalized markets include those in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island, all of which are touching or near Massachusetts.