BOSTON, Mass. –The Massachusetts State Lottery is doing good business this month, but for how long? In the wake of sports betting and technology around the country, the world is moving forward into the digital age. The State Lottery In Massachusetts however, has yet to include an online addition to their Lottery games.
The Push For The Digital Age
The world’s population continues to evolve with new technology throughout, and the need for businesses to adapt to the digital age is paramount for their success and survival. State Treasurer Deb Goldberg understands this plight for the Massachusetts State Lottery. If the Lottery does not adapt, then it may well die off like a wounded calf in the wild.
“We can well manage the decline of the Massachusetts State Lottery,” said Goldberg during a Lottery Commission Meeting. “It won’t happen overnight, but it will ultimately happen in the same way that I think Sear and Toys R Us are.”
Some Opposed To The Idea
Some residents do not favor the idea, however. Convenience store owner Jamie Salamone is one of them. Salamone owns two stores in the area and earns a five percent commission on lottery sales. Salamone says the Lottery games bring in roughly 35 to 40 percent of his store’s income and losing the in-person ticket buys could be harmful.
“Overall, we’d have a loss of commission, loss of related sales, and with all of that, business would decline,” said Salamone.
The Online Lottery Bill
SportsBettinginMassachusetts.com knows for the Massachusetts State Lottery to stay afloat, change is needed. Bill H 37 will, if passed, establish an online lottery. The bill was proposed by State Treasurer Deb Goldberg. The proposal for establishing an online lottery has been referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. The Committee is chaired by Senator Paul Feeney.
“As a former local official, I want to say how important I think this form of unrestricted local aid is to cities and towns,” said Feeney to the Boston Herald. “We cannot allow the lottery to be in hospice – It’s vital.”
The Future Of Online Sports Betting In Massachusetts
Bill H 37, once the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure discusses it, will have the power to greatly impact the state for the better. Convenience stores may lose some of their commission-based money from an online addition to the lottery, but it seems as though it’s a worthy price to pay considering the alternative.
Refusal to adapt to the digital age would surely mean a steep decline of business for convenience stores in Massachusetts, something that may be too steep to recover from.