Big gambling expansion plans are starting to emerge in Massachusetts.  This time the news is not about Representative Barney Frank and his bill to regulated online casinos, although, Frank and online casinos are likely to be center stage in the coming weeks as his online gambling bill are supposed to be addressed in the month of September.  The latest gambling buzz focuses on gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos and his proposal to legalize sports betting on college level and professional sports.  According to Mihos, the state is missing out on a tremendous tax revenue source.

Mihos is convinced that the Massachusetts could be pulling down well over $1 billion each year if the Lottery were to regulate sports betting.  It is the job of a candidate to appear as though he has a solutions to all of the big problems facing the incumbents and this is a part of Mihos solution to the revenue and budget issues currently plaguing Massachusetts.

“We could do this very quickly and solve the revenue problem,” claims Mihos.

Mihos has already recognized that the Massachusetts lottery traditionally out performs the lottery of states in the region.  Average spending per person in the Massachusetts Lottery is $829 each year; this dwarfs the $290 rate in Maryland and the $270 rate found in New Jersey.  Mihos believes Massachusetts could continue to perform well by taking part in the $400 billion sports betting industry.  Gambling expansion has become the go to solution to the economic problems in most states.