In Massachusetts some people are warming to the idea that many gambling dollars could be kept within the state if casinos were legalised. A town meeting in Middleborough, where the Mashpee Wampanoag want to open a tribal casino, brought out unprecedented crowds to hear the pros and cons and gambling won on a non-binding vote. However, casino gambling still needs legislative approval and it is increasingly being suggested that the state would benefit more from first allowing commercial casinos.

For six months a study group has been compiling a report on casino gambling for Governor Deval Patrick. The contents of the report will not be made public until Gov Patrick has decided whether or not to support legislating for casino licensing. The group has met with all sides on the casino issue – casino developers, racetrack owners, gambling opponents, gambling addiction experts and the two federally recognised Massachusetts tribes. Before any casino can be built approval must be granted by the Governor and the legislators.

There are plenty of names lining up to bring gambling to Massachusetts. The Raynham Park dog track owner has been pushing for slot machines for some time, in order to compete a little better with the attraction of the huge Connecticut casinos. The town of Palmer has just heard that 150 acres belonging to Northeast Realty is part of an exclusivity deal signed by the company with Mohegan Sun for a commercial casino. Las Vegas Sands is reportedly interested in building a resort casino in the Marlboro area.

The law is not yet there, but Massachusetts seems to be gearing up already for the advent of casinos in the state. Expressions like ‘jumping the gun’ and ‘cart before the horse’ are emanating from government quarters, and there is still opposition to the idea, but more and more people are quoting the gaming revenue numbers being published from Connecticut. The Bay State could well vote to have a piece of the action very soon. (E-08.03.07)

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