An op-ed that appeared in the Boston Globe, one of the state of Massachussetts’ leading publications, this weekend called for state legislators to “resist the temptation” of legalizing and regulating online poker and gambling. In an editorial piece titled Don’t gamble Massachusetts’ future online, the Globe said that there was a clear distinction between introducing a new trend in the form of online gambling, and allowing the controlled sale of basic lottery products online – an idea which it supports.
“The lottery is controlled by the state, while online gambling would presumably be a private-sector enterprise,” reads the article. “In a state with such striking income disparities, it would be a mistake to put out the welcome mat for a for-profit industry intent on enticing more residents to gamble.”
The piece goes on to say that online gambling does not contribute any of the ancillary benefits that proponents of land gambling expansion promised the industry would yield when changes were made in 2011.
“Nobody books a hotel room to play online poker, or goes to a show between stints at an online slot machine,” reads the And the state’s careful efforts to address problem gaming could easily falter in cyberspace, where it’s harder to flag underage or compulsive gamblers.
In the past, the Boston Globe has supported the sale of lottery products online, allowing customers to buy Mega Millions, Powerball, Keno, and scratch tickets over the internet. It is the opinion of the publication that it is important to move the cash-only lottery online as it is “on the verge of becoming an anachronism.” The Massachusetts Lottery is considered one of the most profitable in the country, yet it still reported a 16% drop in revenue between 2008 and 2015.
The State Commission is currently studying whether the Commonwealth should undergo a major gambling expansion, bringing it in line with the other three states that allow online gambling, namely Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware. Many state officials say that allowing Massachusetts to introduce online gambling would enable the state to tax and regulate sites, which in turn would ensure a flow of revenue to the cash-strapped treasury. Other states such as New York and Pennsylvania are also exploring the possibility of online gambling.
Opponents are concerned that the instant and constant availability of online games would make the industry too much of a temptation for problem gamblers, and believe that the industry could not be 100% policed.
