Sports fans across Massachusetts are preparing to place bets on their favorite teams and players after the recent passage of the sports betting bill. This bill is still with Gov. Charlie Baker, but experts predict that residents of Massachusetts may be placing bets as soon as the Super Bowl.
David Friedman, vice president of government policy and chief policy officer for the Boston Red Sox, and Marlene Warner, executive director of the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health spoke with Jim Braude of Greater Boston about what gamblers can expect.
Sports betting started in casinos before moving online, he said. Sports betting kiosks can even pop up in places like Fenway Park, and fans are allowed to place in-game bets.
Friedman said he was pleased with the passage of the sports betting bill, which represents a change in the sports industry, as top executives had previously opposed legalizing sports betting. “Once you look at the huge amount of illegal betting, it makes sense to support legalization,” he said.
Many protections are built into the law, Warner said. This means that there will be no use of credit cards or additional credit, you must be 21 to bet and part of the money will go into the public health fund.
WATCH: Sports betting will be legal in Massachusetts. So when and where can fans place their bets?
