Springfield business weighs-in on online lottery legalization

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Many people are asking questions after Governor Maura Healey signed legislation that allows for the online sale of lottery tickets in Massachusetts. Although it hasn’t been rolled out yet, local businesses are preparing for an impact.

“Obviously, my first thought is it’s taking away from mom-and-pop stores, you know, the retailers, but considering everything is online now, you got sports betting, online food, bing-bang-boom, everything is online, so it was only a matter of time before the lottery caught up with, you know, online betting,” said David Glantz, owner of Buckeye Brothers Smoke Shop.

With Healey’s signature, the latest facet of online gambling has been legalized. The Massachusetts State Lottery will soon be available right in the palm of your hand. Glantz has sold lottery tickets for decades and he told us this may not be a good thing for brick-and-mortar places like his shop. However, he knows he’ll always have his loyal customers, but he also fears for those who already have an issue with gambling.

“It might not be a good thing for someone that has a problem with gambling and makes the access to betting too easy, you know. People carry their phones around 24/7. They’ve always got their faces in the phones, so obviously, it’s going to make it easier for them to gamble,” Glantz added.

He feels now that more and more forms of gambling are going online, there should be more safeguards in place to protect users.

“Just like sports betting entices you with downloading their apps, there’s a ton of sports betting apps out there and they entice you. They say deposit five dollars in your account and will give you $200 of free bets. You know, people open the account. Next thing you know, they’re draining their bank account. You know, there’s no safeguards in place,” Glantz explained.

Copyright 2024. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.