Gov. Charlie Baker would be happy to sign sports betting bill if state lawmakers pass one this session – masslive.com

Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday said hed gladly sign a bill to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts if state lawmakers pass one this session as he closes out his second term.

Speaking with reporters at the State House a day before his final State of the Commonwealth address, Baker said closing the deal on a bill that would open a burgeoning market to Massachusetts is one of several things hes hoping for in 2022.

There are many things that would make me happy before I leave office, if I have the chance to sign them, Baker said. One of them would certainly be a sports betting bill. Lieutenant Gov. [Karyn Polito] and I filed one several years ago, and filed it again after that. I know its a difficult issue with a lot of elements to it. And it would be my hope, of course, that our colleagues in the House and Senate would find a way to get to yes on that before the end of the legislative session.

He acknowledged sports betting is just one of many issues that state lawmakers and his office are working on, including a bill addressing mental health that he described as a critically important.

Sports betting is now legal in 31 states and Washington, D.C.

In a virtual discussion last fall with state Sen. Eric Lesser, who introduced a sports betting bill last year, gaming attorney Daniel Wallach noted that four out of the five states that border Massachusetts allow sports betting.

Some analysts and state lawmakers say the state is effectively giving away tens of millions of dollars in potential tax and licensing revenue as Massachusetts residents drive across state lines to place their bets.

Varying House and Senate proposals have called for offering sports betting licenses for casinos, race tracks and mobile apps that run digital sports books.

Last year, state Rep. Jerald A. Parisella told MassLive that retail operators and mobile partners could seek nearly a dozen combined licenses, leading to at least $70 million in application and licensing fees alone.

Earlier this month, nearly 90 bars, restaurants and private clubs pressed the Massachusetts Senate to legalize sports betting this year.

The business owners made the case that a boost in revenues tied to sports betting could help them better overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. And legalizing sports betting at local businesses is crucial, they said, to ensure customers are not lured away to casinos.

In a letter to all 40 state senators, the group of business owners and managers endorsed a sports wagering bill from Sen. Adam Gomez, writing it would increase tax revenue for Massachusetts, bolster geographic fairness for residents who do not live near casinos, and provide a safe option for betting.