[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6189419,"mediaKeyId","5057377-0860122de3815ab4a953e17a331720b7","parentId",5057377,"title","Chelsea lawmaker urges reallocation of lottery revenue shares to benefit underserved communities","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4375000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5057377-0860122de3815ab4a953e17a331720b7&start=4375&end=4375","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5057377-0860122de3815ab4a953e17a331720b7/thumbnail_4375000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189419/Massachusetts/Chelsea-lawmaker-urges-reallocation-of-lottery-revenue-shares-to-benefit-underserved-communities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189419-8796e97b3d3ee05d2cc39b7a8671b8d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406551&Signature=UNNJlDDYVQuYpzhTtqHK90CGidR9idCogzzitjNqYUi4bpB~xnta7ZZy5MYPbPhOgQKe6lsMTI-WMH4eoJwC4zPAs1ZMeTiwVlaLRgkQNvQKblQUfya6y43TqWXPiJGdeO9HnU9khuQE4rnHcCsctwkiQTElQqHgMkNIJrVBeGRH0X0ziQmvM9t~TAfRYQAIxR29eoRr9nqRVPwuDM023wX6ufwu-cTeCXUfNf5Uw5qbeJ0oz5EOWsm9v3yskMSdCl4Rk04i7iX70bMBYtEBZe-RJQsN~pcUoA6qCA-kjI3tkXAwaq5mOK3iOARmDFso0WAzcY1IQ-wvYlIib1I7gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","BOSTON — Representative Judith Garcia testified in support of House Bill 434, urging the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to modernize the formula that apportions lottery revenue and return a greater share of benefits to communities that purchase large volumes of tickets.

Garcia, who represents Chelsea, said Chelsea residents purchased about $50 million in lottery tickets in 2023 and received only about 18%—roughly $9.5 million—back under the current allocation formula. “Communities like Chelsea, Worcester and Everett are investing so much in these lottery tickets, but not getting the same in return for their local aid,” she said, and asked the committee to consider changes that would better serve low‑ and moderate‑income communities.

Committee members asked about the geographic mix of ticket purchases; Representative Hawkins and others noted cross‑border purchases and “gateway” city dynamics where residents from other communities may also buy tickets in a town. Garcia acknowledged the complexity but said available data show a concentration of purchases by residents of lower‑income communities that receive comparatively little in return and that the bill aims to address that inequity.

Representative Garcia asked the committee to give H 434 a favorable report so the legislature can consider a modernized apportionment formula.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure - 6-23-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Judith Garcia asked the committee to support House Bill 434 to modernize how lottery revenues are apportioned, saying cities like Chelsea contribute large ticket sales but receive a smaller share of related local aid.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189424,"Massachusetts residents and animal‑welfare advocates press committee to tighten review of racetrack and simulcast proposals",3471,181000,3652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5057377-0860122de3815ab4a953e17a331720b7&start=181&end=3652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5057377-0860122de3815ab4a953e17a331720b7/thumbnail_181000.jpg","/articles/6189424/Massachusetts/Massachusetts-residents-and-animalwelfare-advocates-press-committee-to-tighten-review-of-racetrack-and-simulcast-proposals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189424-927d11593a61af9b373ccef4de5e7551/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406551&Signature=JUlUwcGk9GE9lcn8gzAccVr~UsLcMyKw0ZWQqQRXbLtyZaYzKkRr~3Nuc~yedAhYathUzsIaMK5FADpLeLHmjmkz4i-K7MUjswgNPhPNIWSCt5v6waWuXyOqQmO0xQZb5S-1HvL~n~GqzxqeGp1EkgCWt1tYq62cp8uSy0cnR649Lc96qQQ2OY0Pu6Mul~qgDSzcpB8aIZNCfmwGpH3o8LZQlg-ObB01PkIg6gAbiHkL2o3TMTT9bSI24LhG5fZRyRt-DjkqqviaVGRR4oA4E1ONw-a7H-kLsMlianA45s978xYh8JV4qXLwduBwYP8Uo-vaQJH1QLsrYA8gw9uLNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BOSTON — Dozens of residents, veterinarians and animal‑welfare advocates urged the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to advance legislation that would require more upfront review and local control over proposals to build horse racetracks or simulcasting facilities, and would expand animal‑welfare protections for racing horses.

Supporters of House Bill 356 said current law allows racetrack developers to seek local governing‑body approval without providing the engineering, traffic, environmental and public‑health studies that accompany most large developments. “This bill gives Massachusetts communities the support needed and the transparency required by horse racing and simulcasting developers to make educated informed decisions,” said Janelle Manoa of New Marlborough, who testified in support.

Barbara Kellogg and other local activists described multiple proposed projects since the 2019 closure of Suffolk Downs that, they said, lacked adequate land, environmental review or traffic planning. Kellogg said one proposal in Leominster described a 1‑mile track requiring about 55 acres, but developers were proposing a 40‑acre site that included capped landfill and plans the developers acknowledged would not meet typical needs. “H 356 takes these proposals and requires the developers to do the studies and the plans that they would be required to do in any large development,” Kellogg said.

Several animal‑welfare witnesses, including Nicholas Dodman, professor emeritus, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and Pam Youngquist of Great Barrington, urged the committee to consider harm to horses. Dodman described “extraordinary” breakdowns, use of drugs and the industry’s limited pathways for retiring horses. Multiple witnesses cited deaths at existing venues as evidence of systemic welfare problems.

Supporters also said H 356 would require municipal planning‑board and conservation‑commission review and would add a resident ballot requirement for new racetracks and simulcast facilities—steps they said would prevent communities from bearing the cost and uncertainty of late‑stage permitting.

Representatives of the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and other industry‑aligned witnesses opposed legislation that would effectively end or sharply curtail racing or extend simulcasting restrictions. Paul Umbrello, executive director of the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said racing supports farms, veterinarians, transportation and college equine programs and that industry reforms and federal measures, including the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, have increased regulatory oversight. “We are the only equine discipline out there that is now heavily regulated at the state and federal level,” Umbrello testified.

The committee heard sharply divergent claims about slaughter and mortality rates, and witnesses disputed each other’s numbers and characterizations of industry reform. Several witnesses urged the committee to consider reforms that would require developers to present completed environmental impact statements, traffic studies and engineering plans prior to any municipal vote.

No committee action was taken on the bills during the hearing.","Testimony on House Bill 356 and Senate Bill 280 focused on requiring upfront studies, municipal oversight and ballot approval for new racetracks and simulcasting facilities, and on animal‑welfare concerns. Horsemen’s groups opposed bills as threats to farms, jobs and the racing industry.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189428,"Industry, unions and public-health advocates clash as committee considers legal online casino bill",476,609000,1085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5057377-0860122de3815ab4a953e17a331720b7&start=609&end=1085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5057377-0860122de3815ab4a953e17a331720b7/thumbnail_609000.jpg","/articles/6189428/Massachusetts/Industry-unions-and-public-health-advocates-clash-as-committee-considers-legal-online-casino-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189428-3da7aed77dfb9936f3e5b21d232b0d9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406551&Signature=U-tT4mCTxHwVYvw37mTZ4jpsnX24ZSGFYaTFQEv3gRacO-OzUBpjRGBNtDfo74KpUYy5je7v-HGJm8fSuBi173Ww25eUSDDF3pLJW~qb7wpgXxYQSRiPj9bMrCwCIjtgj9zJz05mI~rVdB9QL62IQVjqwC01mJlys-i-Tw2J10xgCjDvleRdODkbJoVFpS5mi7asC0vcsZymxUvnDchteiLBf3LFzk2ncKqDw98Ov9va5I7lEfmgJ61zUWNYzIjzk2G7n2ikUdgwrAl1K38d5U3a2I-AAa8xQiV5dVNXyPKcwCsKXezKe7jzmHxBGypG7dyEnvJ75ptkU7Q1YnTaZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BOSTON — The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard more than two hours of testimony on bills that would authorize regulated online casino gaming in Massachusetts, with industry representatives arguing legalization would move wagering from an unregulated market into a taxed, supervised system and opponents warning of job losses and increased problem gambling.

Industry witnesses including David Prestwood, government affairs manager for DraftKings, and James Hartman, state government relations director at FanDuel, told the committee that iGaming already exists in the Commonwealth but is largely unregulated and that a legal market would provide age and identity verification, responsible‑gaming tools and tax revenue. “Regulating iGaming provides Massachusetts consumers with a safe and transparent alternative to that illegal market,” Prestwood said.

The economic case from industry focused on new tax revenue and job growth. DraftKings said Massachusetts could “conservatively generate $230 million to $275 million annually” under the tax structure proposed in the bills; John Pappas of the iDevelopment and Economic Association (IDEA) cited Rightlander advertising‑traffic estimates that roughly $2.5 billion in wagers occurred in Massachusetts last year on offshore sites and estimated roughly $260 million annually in new tax revenue from a regulated market. Pappas and other industry witnesses pressed the committee to allow more competitive license structures than in the draft bills, arguing the state could support many operators.

Union and public‑health witnesses countered that a regulated iGaming market can cannibalize existing brick‑and‑mortar gaming jobs and increase harms from problem gambling. Jake McNeil, general agent for Hospitality Workers Union Local 26, said his union’s analysis — drawing on an Innovation Group study — projects the state could lose about 862 gaming jobs and 2,786 supporting jobs if iGaming is legalized as currently drafted. Mark Stewart of the National Association Against iGaming and Brianne Dorosh, a national problem‑gambling expert, highlighted steep increases in helpline calls and studies from other states showing higher rates of problem gambling and increased social costs after iGaming launches.

Several witnesses emphasized consumer protections. Hartman said legal platforms include identity verification, account limits and interventions; FanDuel described a “real‑time check‑in” tool and partnerships with behavioral health providers. Opponents said verification systems and self‑exclusion lists have proven imperfect. Stewart cited Pennsylvania enforcement actions where operators were found to have accounts created with other people’s information and instances of excluded individuals returning to play.

Questions from committee members sought sources and modeling details; Representative LeBoeuf asked the industry to provide the underlying revenue and market‑capacity data cited in testimony.

The hearing included no committee votes on the measures; the meeting concluded with a procedural motion to close the hearing that passed by voice vote.","The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard competing testimony on bills to authorize regulated online casino gaming (iGaming) in Massachusetts, with industry witnesses touting consumer protections and revenue and unions and public‑health experts warning of job losses and addiction harms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Chelsea lawmaker urges reallocation of lottery revenue shares to benefit underserved communities

Massachusetts residents and animal‑welfare advocates press committee to tighten review of racetrack and simulcast proposals

Industry, unions and public-health advocates clash as committee considers legal online casino bill