\nConsidering all of the challenges that bars and restaurants and other small businesses have been going through with this pandemic, it was important to me that they were included in this bill,\u201d Ramos told MassLive. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\u201cI think we also have to make sure that minority-owned businesses have an opportunity to succeed in this new industry, which is why we included explicit language for diversity, equity, and inclusion,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\nDistressed Restaurants<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\nThe bill would also establish the Distressed Restaurant Fund, which would be financed by revenues from Massachusetts sports betting. The fund would provide financial assistance to restaurants in the state that have been impacted by COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cFor me, it became a no-brainer \u2013 why shouldn\u2019t an adult who is patronizing a local sports restaurant have the opportunity to bet $25 legally and safely on the Celtics,\u201d Gomez said. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe want to ensure that sports wagering can occur fairly and legally where every business interested can have a seat at the table,” he added. “This legislation will increase our state\u2019s competitiveness and will capture revenues that are currently being enjoyed by our neighboring states where sports betting has been legalized.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A bill that would authorize sports betting at Massachusetts bars, restaurants, and other small businesses made its way last week to the state legislature. Sen. Adam Gomez\u2019s (D-Hampden) legislation is one of several sports betting bills now doing the rounds in Boston, including one from Gov. Charlie Baker. Unlike some of its neighbors, Massachusetts opted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":165813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,1074],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Massachusetts Sports Betting Could Be Lifeline for Small Businesses<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n