Massachusetts Senate rejects sports betting tax rate hike

The Massachusetts Senate rejected a budget amendment proposal Thursday that aimed to change the state’s online sports betting tax rate from 20% to 51%.

Sen. John Keenan, who proposed the change, spoke to the Senate for over 20 minutes about the dangers of gambling and his desire for the change. He was hopeful some of the additional sports betting tax revenue could be used to better help problem gamblers in the state.

“I can’t think of a single reason why we would not raise taxation rates on online sports betting,” Keenan said.

Keenan’s desire for the change came in part due to concerns about problem gambling rates potentially rising should the state lottery become available online.