The Massachusetts legislature may have voted down Governor Deval Patrick’s plan to license three resort casinos but that does not mean that residents of the Bay State do not gamble. An annual study by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth shows that in 2007 they made over 8 million visits to gambling facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Massachusetts residents spent US$1.1 billion last year gambling at Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun and the Rhode Island slots operations, generating over US$233 million in tax revenue for the two states. Massachusetts Lottery officials have recently proclaimed themselves ‘thrilled’ at the success of the new US$20 scratch tickets that went on sale in September. ‘Billion Dollar Blockbuster’ ticket sales are averaging US$2 million a day.

Today federal officials will hold a public hearing on a casino proposal for Middleborough from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. In September last year the tribe paid an initial US$250,000 to the town for underwriting the casino plan. The contract guarantees a minimum US$7 million payment by the tribe plus a percentage of hotel revenue. The casino proposal includes a 1200-room hotel, arena, golf course and retail shops. (E-03.25.08)

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