59% Of Massachusetts Voters Support Legalizing iGaming, Poll Shows

By Bill Speros

Feb 24th, 2026 3:15 PM EST

Massachusetts voters appear ready to bring online casino gaming out of the shadows, in much the same way they ushered in legalized sports betting three years ago. A new Beacon Research survey shows 59% of Massachusetts voters support legalizing iGaming under a state-regulated system, signaling growing momentum for legislation currently moving through Beacon Hill.

The survey, conducted in January 2026 with more than 1,000 Massachusetts voters, lands amid renewed scrutiny of illegal offshore gambling platforms — including a recent New York Times investigation detailing how some unregulated sites target minors.

The data suggests many are aware of the problem and want a solution, thus Massachusetts Voters Support Legalizing iGaming. The release of the poll was shared by the Sports Betting Alliance. That industry trade group includes bet365, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM and Fanatics. Those operators are all potential iGaming licensees in the Bay State under a pending bill on Beacon Hill that would legalize online casino play.

Voters: Regulate It, Don’t Ignore It

The poll paints a clear picture of concern over offshore operators:

• 73% are concerned about risks posed by unregulated online casinos, including insecure financial data, weak age verification, and unpaid winnings.
• 77% believe offshore platforms pose a real consumer risk.
• 76% say a legalized, state-regulated iGaming market would better prevent children from gambling than the current offshore environment.
• 86% believe adults should be free to gamble if they choose.
• 73% say legalized iGaming revenue is preferable — or at least acceptable — compared to raising taxes on residents.

That’s a broad cross-section of support cutting across consumer protection, personal freedom and fiscal policy.

The numbers also echo language used by Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, who argued in a recent Boston Globe op-ed that the real policy choice isn’t gambling vs. no gambling — it’s regulated gambling vs. black-market gambling.

“Legal markets…do something illegal ones never have: We fund solutions and help customers find resources,” Maloney wrote.

Where Massachusetts iGaming Legislation Stands

Legislators on Beacon Hill are taking another crack at legalizing online casinos this year. Companion bills from Rep. David Muradian (H4431) and Sen. Paul Feeney (S235) have reporting deadlines in early March.

Muradian's bill would legalize iGaming in the Commonwealth, govern it through the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, limit three online skins to current retail casino operators, tax online gaming revenues at 15%, and ban "dual-currency" sweepstakes social casinos. It must be reported by March 15. Feeney's bill has a March 5 deadline.

Feeney's bill limits skins to two apiece for currently licensed casino operators, but allow four other "untethered" license holders. Operators would be taxed 20% on their revenues. It report date is March 5.

Massachusetts successfully launched legal online sports betting in 2023, overseen by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Sports betting had been going on illegally in the Bay Stare for more than a century previously. That rollout has largely been viewed as orderly and compliance-driven, with strong consumer protections and responsible gaming guardrails.

Supporters of iGaming argue the same regulatory model could be extended to online casino products — slots, table games and live dealer offerings — which already exist via offshore websites accessible to Bay State residents.

Opponents have raised concerns about problem gambling expansion. But supporters counter that regulation — not prohibition — is the stronger harm-reduction strategy.

The Kalshi Lawsuit And The Broader Gambling Fight

The iGaming debate is unfolding alongside Massachusetts’ legal battle against federally regulated prediction markets such as Kalshi.

State regulators have argued that sports event contracts offered by prediction exchanges are sports betting. And, therefore, fall under state gambling authority. Kalshi, backed by federal oversight through the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has challenged those assertions in court.

The broader fight highlights a tension facing many states: if traditional gaming expansion stalls, alternative wagering products — from offshore casinos to federally regulated event contracts — continue to fill the vacuum.

In that context, the Beacon Research poll could be read as a warning to lawmakers. One that says voters may prefer a regulated in-state solution over continued gray-market activity.

Revenue And Tax Implications

Specific tax rates and licensing structures remain under debate. Proponents argue that legalized iGaming could generate tens of millions annually for state priorities. This includes education, infrastructure and responsible gambling programs.

Massachusetts’ sports betting has generated $408.41 million in revenue from fees and taxes since the 2023 launch. Advocates suggest iGaming could provide a steadier, year-round revenue stream given the 24/7 nature of casino gaming compared to seasonal sports calendars. In 2025 alone in Michigan, for example, iGaming operators generated $2.9 billion in adjusted gross revenue and paid the state $597.5 million in taxes and fees.

And notably, 73% of voters in the survey said they prefer iGaming revenue over higher taxes — a politically relevant data point in a state frequently grappling with budget pressures.

The Political Outlook

At 59% support, legalization is not a landslide — but it is clear majority backing.

Combined with strong concern about offshore platforms and high support for adult choice, the polling gives legislative sponsors tangible cover to move forward.

The question now is whether lawmakers act — or whether Massachusetts risks leaving the online casino market to operators outside its regulatory reach.

As the sports betting rollout showed, consumer demand doesn’t disappear. It simply migrates.

For Bay State voters, the message appears straightforward: regulate it, tax it, and protect it — or watch the black market continue to thrive.

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