The Senate authorized the Lottery to expand into cyberspace as part of an economic development bill that passed Thursday night on a 39-1 vote.
The bill (S 2423) also subjects online vacation rentals, such as Airbnb, to hotel taxes, and creates a commission to study daily fantasy sports, such as DraftKings.
Senators differed strongly over whether to enable the Lottery to enter the online market before adopting Sen. Jennifer Flanagan’s amendment on a 22-17 vote.
“This is just a convenience. We’re keeping up with the modern times,” said Sen. Don Humason, a Westfield Republican.
“We are preying on the lowest income people in our state,” argued Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, a Jamaica Plain Democrat.
The Senate avoided making changes to the law governing the relationship between brewers and beer distributors, opting instead for a commission to study that issue.
