Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioMassachusetts State Treasurer Deb Goldberg has publicly opposed the legalization of online casinos (iGaming) as the state prepares to launch its online lottery (iLottery) next summer. Her comments are not surprising to some, as Goldberg chairs the state Lottery Commission and has long championed the expansion of iLottery.
“I don’t want to tell you what iLotteries did during Covid – Michigan, New Hampshire – while we had nobody being able to leave their house. And can you imagine the amount that we would have generated then,” Goldberg said during a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event last week.
She argued that Massachusetts missed a major revenue opportunity by not having an iLottery in place during the pandemic. “So, I would not like to see iGaming come.”
“We won’t be able to compete [with online casinos] in terms of advertising,” Goldberg added. “So I, right now, am firmly against iGaming. They may not like me for that, but I gotta think about the people of Massachusetts, and that’s my top priority.”
iLottery Launch & Lottery’s Revenue Clout
Massachusetts has taken its time rolling out new gambling verticals. It legalized sports betting in 2022, but after years of debate.
In 2024, the state approved iLottery as part of the fiscal year 2025. However, the rollout has been repeatedly delayed, with officials now expecting to launch online sales in July 2026, over a year later than initially envisioned by lawmakers.
The stakes are significant. While reports show conflicting data, all major data sets rank Massachusetts first in the nation for per-capita spending on lottery tickets. Players in the state spend between $839 and $915 annually.
Meanwhile, in second-placed Rhode Island, players spend between $510 and $573. The data is based on reports from Lending Tree and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Goldberg projects that the new iLottery could generate approximately $70 million in net profit in its first year, with revenue increasing over time as digital sales gain traction.
In fiscal 2025, the Massachusetts State Lottery generated more than $1 billion in net profit. The Commonwealth returns the profits to cities and towns as unrestricted local aid. Goldberg says that the outcome could be jeopardized by iGaming competition.
“My top priority,” she added, “is to think about the people of Massachusetts.” Goldberg reflected her belief that introducing online casino games could dilute the Lottery’s contributions and shift entertainment dollars to private operators, rather than benefiting the public.
iGaming Proposals Remain Under Legislative Review
The treasurer’s resistance comes while lawmakers explore the possibility of iGaming.
In November, the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies heard arguments on HB 4431, which would legalize up to nine online casinos.
The proposal calls for a 15% tax on adjusted gross revenue, responsible gaming controls, and strict advertising limits. Supporters argue that legal iGaming would repatriate billions in wagering activity currently occurring offshore while offering consumer protections.
Rebecca London, Senior Government Affairs Manager at DraftKings, cited a Vixio model, showing $170 million to $200 million in annual tax revenue from iGaming.
Conversely, opponents — including labor unions and some casino operators — warn that online casinos would cannibalize brick-and-mortar employment.
They claim iGaming would shift spending away from physical properties, undercutting local economic activity and gambling tax contributions.
HB 4431 also targets sweepstakes casinos. The provision follows a national trend by states seeking to curb dual-currency gaming models that operate outside traditional gambling regulation.
The bill is not the only active proposal to legalize online casinos in Massachusetts. Two companion bills, House Bill 332 and Senate Bill 235, received a joint committee hearing in June.
The proposals differ significantly from HB 4431. They call for 10 online casino licenses, with six being tethered (two skins per retail casino). The other four would be untethered without a tie to land-based property.
At 20%, the companion bills’ tax is higher, and so is the cost: $5 million initially and for renewals. Another critical difference is that the companion bills do not include a provision to ban sweepstakes casinos.
Lawmakers extended the reporting dates on the three bills to March 2026.
