Officials in Massachusetts are "closely following" the sports gambling case that was recently argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, but even if sports gambling is opened up, the state would "still have to approve legislation before sports fans could legally bet," according to Mark Arsenault of the BOSTON GLOBE. Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Stephen Crosby said that his staff is "preparing a briefing paper for state lawmakers that will lay out the range of potential outcomes from the Supreme Court case." Arsenault notes among the three casino operators licensed in Massachusetts, Penn National Gaming is the "most enthusiastic about the prospect of taking sports bets." Penn National Senior VP/Public Affairs & Government Relations Eric Schippers "confirmed the company would be interested in adding a Massachusetts sports book if such gambling became legal." He added that sports bets would "not generate huge new profits for casinos or a tax windfall for the state, but they 'can be an amenity for casinos to remain competitive in the regional arms race.'" Crosby said that while waiting for the ruling, state officials are "cooperating with gambling regulators from other states, in an informal group" coordinated through UNLV (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/1).
