Mass Live – Attorney General Martha Coakley on Thursday came out against a bill allowing online gambling because it would open the door to the use of credit cards to buy Lottery products. The bill was sponsored by Treasurer Steve Grossman.
Coakley’s comments opened up a new issue in the 2014 gubernatorial race, in which Coakley and Grossman are the two leading Democratic candidates.
Grossman had recently attacked Coakley for her positions on criminal justice issues. Coakley’s statements indicate that she plans to be equally aggressive against Grossman, focusing on his work as treasurer.
Coakley did not mention Grossman in her press release, which was sent out by her campaign. But she criticized Grossman’s bill for opening the door to credit card sales for lottery products, something currently prohibited by state law.
“Opening the door to credit card gambling will certainly help the big banks, but not Massachusetts families nor local businesses,” Coakley said in a statement. “The convenience of gaming online combined with the use of credit cards to finance playing is a recipe for disaster. The potential to run up credit card debt gambling online will further weigh down many of those already struggling to keep their heads above water.”
A spokesman from Grossman’s treasury office responded that the bill does not necessarily open the door to the use of credit cards – and Grossman does not support allowing the use of credit cards to buy Lottery products. “Steve is opposed to the use of credit cards to purchase online gaming products,” said Grossman spokesman Jon Carlisle.
