Online Gambling Study Taskforce Created in Massachusetts

The recently created body will aim to assess the potential benefits of changing American gambling laws and introducing legal online gambling in the state.

Steven Grossman, Massachusetts Treasurer, already started appointing members to the special task force last year. The appointed professionals will investigate and asses all possibilities and implications connected with legalization of online casinos in United States.

United States gambling news reported that during the budget hearing last year, Grossman labeled online gambling as an activity that "is becoming a major competitive threat" to all land-based casino interests. In case the United States decides to go ahead with legal internet gaming, Massachusetts should consider creating a state-based or regional online gaming product too.

Grossman has recently added a few more names to the list. Now, the task force consists of Beth Boland, a member of the Massachusetts Lottery Commission; Joseph Sullivan, mayor of Braintree and former Lottery director; Kate Cook, director of Cabinet affairs for Gov. Deval Patrick; Mal Salter of Harvard Business School; Tom Herman of Smith & Duggan LLP; David Fubini of McKinsey & Company; and last but not least David Murdoch, executive vice president of Honey Farms Inc.

The newly created body already consists of various Treasury officials including Jim MacDonald, first deputy treasurer; Al Gordon, deputy treasurer for policy; Kathryn Burton, chief of staff; Jamey Tesler, general counsel; and Craig Stepno, director of research.

The Online Gambling Study Taskforce also includes members from the State Lottery, such as Paul Sternburg, executive director of the lottery; Cathy Judd-Stein, director of policy and special counsel; Dave Sweeney, CFO; Beth Bresnahan, director of marketing and communications; Bill Egan, general counsel; and Paul Mandeville, a procurement official.