Former Senator Robert Ford

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Adams and 40 co-sponsors

Category 2 retail sports wagering licensees may invest at least $7,500,000 in a facility instead of paying the Section 5(f) fee, boosting local development and jobs.

Introduced and adopted

Overview / Purpose

S.294 is a short amendment to Massachusetts General Laws chapter 23N (the statute governing sports wagering). Its stated purpose is to encourage capital investment in retail sports wagering facilities by giving certain licensees an option to make a defined capital investment in lieu of paying a statutory fee.

Key provision (textual change)

Amends the last clause in the definition of “Category 2 license” in Section 3 of chapter 23N.

Adds an alternative to the fee in section 5(f): a Category 2 licensee may, instead of paying that fee, make a capital investment of not less than $7,500,000 in a sports wagering facility.

(Plain language: A Category 2 retail sports wagering licensee can choose to invest ≥ $7.5 million in a sports wagering facility rather than pay the specified fee under section 5(f).)

Who would be affected

Category 2 licensees under chapter 23N (businesses seeking retail sports wagering authorization).

The Massachusetts gaming/sports wagering regulator (responsible for implementing, verifying and enforcing the investment option).

Municipalities and local economies where retail sports wagering facilities are built or upgraded (construction, jobs, property improvements).

Potentially state revenues, if fee receipts are reduced because licensees opt for the investment route.

Potential effects and considerations

Incentive: Encourages direct capital improvements to retail sports wagering venues (new builds, renovations, or equipment), which may support local construction jobs and facility upgrades.

Fiscal impact: Could reduce near‑term fee revenues collected under section 5(f) if licensees choose investment over fees. The bill does not specify how the investment is certified, timed, or whether investments count toward other statutory requirements or offsets — administrative rules or guidance would be needed.

Oversight: The regulator will need procedures to verify that investments meet the statutory minimum and qualify as capital investment “in a sports wagering facility.”

Equity among licensees: The option may advantage entities with capital access and could affect competitive dynamics among operators.

Legislative status and timeline (as recorded)

Introduced (Senate): January 29, 2025.

Filed in Senate (docket no. 2419): January 17, 2025 (bill text lists Senator Michael D. Brady as the presenter/sponsor).

Referred to committee(s): Record shows referrals to Economic Development and Emerging Technologies; also entries listing referral to Labor and to Commerce, Science, and Transportation (the source record contains duplicate/overlapping committee entries).

Hearings scheduled: November 13, 2025 (various listings showing 11:00 AM–1:00 PM and 11:00 AM–2:00 PM sessions and virtual updates).

Current status in provided record: REFERRED TO LABOR (multiple duplicate entries present).

Related/administrative notes

The bill text identifies Michael D. Brady as the presenting sponsor. Other sponsor listings in the provided record appear inconsistent with the Massachusetts context and may reflect data aggregation errors; the official bill text and docket should be treated as primary for sponsor information.

The amendment is narrowly targeted (one sentence change). Implementation will likely require regulator guidance or rulemaking to define eligible capital investments, verification timelines, and how the fee/investment choice is exercised.

Bill