Massachusetts wants to change its gaming rules with House Bill 4431, introduced on August 18, 2025. The bill went to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. It builds on earlier plans by Sen. Paul R. Feeney and Rep. Daniel Cahill to allow online gaming, called iGaming, and stop unregulated online sweeps casinos.
The goal is to create a safe, legal iGaming market that brings in money while protecting local businesses and people from shady gambling sites.
House Bill 4431 lets the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) manage the iGaming market within Massachusetts. The state’s three physical casinos can get licenses and work with up to two online operators each. The MGC can also give out four extra licenses to other companies.
Each license lasts five years and costs $1 million per year. There’s also a 20% tax on iGaming earnings. Allowed games include poker, blackjack, slots, roulette, and other casino games the MGC approves, offering many online options.
The bill bans online sweeps casinos, which are often considered to dodge rules and operate in a legal gray area. This supports Massachusetts’ past efforts to stop unregulated gambling and keep players safe.
Supporters like David Prestwood from DraftKings previously declared in June’s testimony that legal iGaming could bring $230–$275 million in taxes each year soon after starting. A Sports Betting Alliance speaker, representing DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, said states like New Jersey with legal iGaming saw casino revenue and jobs grow by 2%. They believe iGaming helps all parts of the industry.
But critics disagree. Jamie McNiel from Local 26, which supports hospitality workers, brought data to support his dissent.
“By our estimates, Massachusetts could lose 862 gaming jobs and an additional 2,786 supporting jobs,” he proclaimed.
“Our estimates are derived from a 2025 Innovation Group study that found between 2019 and 2024, states with iGaming had a 4% decline in brick-and-mortar casinos, and states without iGaming had a 12% increase in their casinos. We applied the 16% loss to our current workforce here in Massachusetts.”
In New Jersey, iGaming revenue grew 395% from 2019 to 2024, but casino jobs fell 17%, losing over 5,000 positions. Mark Stewart from the National Association Against iGaming said Massachusetts casinos could lose 16–30% of their revenue if iGaming becomes legal.
As the Joint Committee looks at the bill, Massachusetts must decide between new economic possibilities and keeping its traditional casino industry strong.
