EVERETT, MA — Some of New England’s most prominent recent sports heroes were there to welcome what may be a big component of that long run for many enthusiasts when champions from the top 4 professional groups were among the first to take legal positions. sports betting. in Massachusetts at Encore Boston Harbor Casino on Tuesday morning.
Half a decade after the Supreme Court ruled that sports betting can be legal nationally beyond the bastion of Las Vegas, and after years of wrangling within the state legislature to make it a truth in the state, as betting has become legal in New England and New Zealand. windows and kiosks officially opened at Casino Everett, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Casino in Plainville at 10 a. m.
“I think it’s legal for a long time,” former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon said with a laugh as he wore the same No. 18 uniform he wore when he was a hero of the 2004 World Series champions. Make many other people happy. The fact is that Boston sports enthusiasts are very smart and polite. By opting for their teams, they know they have a chance.
“I enthusiasts here are going to do very well. “
The plan is for citizens across the state to gain advantages beyond bets placed at all 3 casinos starting this week, as well as gambling on old race tracks and online when mobile betting launches in Massachusetts in March, with sports betting and mobile sites. consistent with an initial license payment of $5 million and estimated tax revenues between $25 million and $65 million consistent with the year.
Of those measuring the profit pie, forty-five percent of taxes will go to the state’s general fund, 27. 5 percent will go to local aid, and nine percent will go to state public health systems that challenge players.
“Very late for the game,” the speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives said. U. S. Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). ” When the Supreme Court ruled (in 2018) that sports betting was legal, we started discussing it. And it took us five years now. Long after your idea. It’s a negotiation. “
State Rep. Jerry Parisella (D-Beverly) told Patch that estimates from last year’s Super Bowl indicated that 30% of those who bet on the game in New Hampshire were from Massachusetts and those who now stay home to gamble get more Granite friendly payouts. It has been enforcing bets at 51%, while Bay State charges 15% for retail bets (placed in a casino) and 20% for mobile bets.
“There are a lot of other people here,” said NFL Hall of Famer Ty Law, who made a $1,000 bet that the Celtics would win the NBA name as their “first bet” on Tuesday. “People have been waiting for him, so they know they’re doing the right thing. It has already been approved in many other casinos and in many other states.
“We’re in New England, so we’ll do it here. “
The Massachusetts Gambling Commission has approved betting on top professional school sports, as well as “special events” such as the Oscars for those 21 and older. .
“We all know there is illegal gambling,” said Angela Ruggiero, an American Olympic women’s hockey player at Harvard University. “Now it’s legal. Obviously, there are many opportunities to bet on a professional level. It is for many things that everyone may worry about at this level.
“So, it’s just fun. “
Ruggiero said sports may just be a tool to help generate interest in women’s sports among those who start watching them because they have a little monetary interest in the outcome.
“The sports industry is also following the women’s game,” she wrote. “It’s just an opportunity to generate income, but also interest. But I think it would be fun to bet on women’s professional hockey or WBNA. “
While few seemed to fool themselves that legal sports betting would be the offshore “community guy” sites where Massachusetts citizens have long gambled, the legal product is expected to be followed by many of those who are kicked out a bit of “putting a few bucks in the game. “
“It’s going to be great to have that little extra at stake when you’re sitting on the couch watching the game,” said former Bruins forward Shawn Thornton, a member of the 2011 Stanley Cup champions. “You can feel the excitement here right now at 10:30 in the morning.
“I’m overwhelmed. I will be extremely happy when I am here to place my own bets. “
(Scott Souza is editor of Patch Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott. Souza@Patch. com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza).
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