Massachusetts Senate President Says State Reviewing I-Poker To Determine Impact On Casinos

Already a dark horse for online poker legalization in 2017, the Bay State could now “potentially” approve online poker next year, said the state’s Senate President.

State House News Service reports that Senate President Stan Rosenberg told Boston Herald Radio that he doesn’t want to “hurt” the fledgling commercial casino industry in the state by moving forward with online betting too soon.

Online casino gaming is being “reviewed,” according to Rosenberg.

There’s been similar concern over online poker in New York, which in recent months has seen three of four commercial casinos open. The last of the casinos will be in business early next year.

Unlike New York, Massachusetts doesn’t have an online poker bill on the table right now. New York’s legislation is awaiting a possible vote in the Senate.

Two Las Vegas-style casinos—from Wynn and MGM—are currently under construction in Massachusetts. Wynn Boston Harbor is slated to open in 2019, and MGM Springfield will begin taking action next year. They have planned for 90 table and 20 table poker rooms, respectively.

Massachusetts is also looking at allowing online lottery sales.

In a confusing April op-ed from The Boston Globe, the highly-respected newspaper outlined its support for the internet lottery and opposition to online poker.

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