AS LAWMAKERS CONTINUE to work on legislation to regulate the emerging ride-hailing industry in Massachusetts, the biggest sticking point appears to be mandating fingerprints for drivers, a move that has triggered threats by transportation network companies such as Uber to pull up stakes in places where such a policy has been instituted. While no Uber […]
Regulation
Posted inGambling, The Download
Fantasy sports come to grips with reality
The argument over whether playing fantasy sports for money is legal is long-past settled. Congress, under heavy lobbying from professional sports leagues, gave a specific carve-out for fantasy leagues to operate when it passed the Internet Gaming Act in 2006. And there is also little debate that fantasy sports is real gambling, pure and simple, especially with […]
Posted inEconomy, Opinion, Transportation
On ride-sharing, Legislature must embrace innovation
MASSACHUSETTS HAS BEEN the cradle of innovation since our country’s birth. Big ideas, groundbreaking solutions and global advances in technology, medicine, government and education have been launched in our Commonwealth. In more recent years, Massachusetts has become recognized as the biggest technology industry competitor to Silicon Valley and our economy has been driven by innovation […]
Posted inEconomy, The Download
The high cost of sharing
In this emerging “sharing economy” – i.e., I got something I can make a few bucks off – much of the focus has been on so-called transportation network companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, and their impact on traditional regulated services such as taxis and limos. Somewhat overlooked have been services such GetAround and RelayRides, […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Regulatory review a dangerous path
NOW THAT SPRING has finally arrived in the Commonwealth, many of us are starting our spring cleaning – getting rid of clutter, washing windows and drapes, dusting away cobwebs. And perhaps that is Gov. Baker’s intention with his recent executive order calling for a review of all existing regulations enforced by the executive branch – to […]