House bets on casino bill;
Now must sway Murray, gov on tracks’ slots
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Boston Herald
Hillary Chabot and Jessica Van Sack
Thursday, April 15, 2010 - Updated 3h ago
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The Bay State inched closer to flashing slot machines and whizzing roulette wheels last night as House lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill legalizing two resort casinos and up to 750 slots at each of the state’s four racetracks.
“We’re stuck in very difficult economic times and, as I stated, this bill is not going to be the end of all of our economic problems, but on the other hand it’s a good start,” said House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop).

But DeLeo’s 120-to-37 veto-proof majority vote means little if he can’t convince Senate President Therese Murray and Gov. Deval Patrick to sign onto slots at the racetracks - to which both have expressed strong opposition.


“I really feel very, very, very strongly about the need to keep the slots component in this bill,” said DeLeo, pointing to the jobs and local aid slots are projected to bring.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Murray seems to have no immediate plans to take up the legislation.
“We’ll have to review it and come up with a plan that everyone can sign on to,” said Sen. Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy).
Meanwhile, racetrack owners and casino bigwigs hailed the House vote and jockeyed for position to claim one of the two resort licenses.
“We remain committed to building and operating a world-class entertainment complex,” said Suffolk Downs owner Chip Tuttle.

The vote comes only two years after many of the same lawmakers opposed Gov. Patrick’s bill legalizing three resort casinos.


“Times have changed Mr. Speaker - thank you very much for that,” said Rep. Brian Wallace (D-South Boston).


Most legislators in DeLeo’s leadership team who had previously opposed expanded gambling switched their votes to support the measure, including Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick).


“With unemployment above 9 percent in Massachusetts, we have an obligation to do whatever we can to create jobs,” said Linsky. He said he did not feel pressured by DeLeo.

Supporters say the bill will bring about 18,000 jobs and generate between $300 million to $500 million. The estimated $100 million generated by slots will go directly to cities and towns.

Gambling opponents spoke passionately against the bill before the vote, saying it will spark skyrocketing addiction and won’t bring the revenue jackpot supporters have promised


It's most certainly coming. I have been reporting the facts on this web site. The votes are there in the Senate to pass this bill, or some version of it. I believe the major change will be the expansion of the number of Casino's to be approved, and a tightening of possible oversight mechanism's and new agencies to regulate these Casino's. This will be agreed to by the House, because they are smart enough to know if they want the bill to come out of the Senate they will have to compromise on some of the provisions of the bill.

I note in particular this comment made after House passage of a bill:

Meanwhile, racetrack owners and casino bigwigs hailed the House vote and jockeyed for position to claim one of the two resort licenses.

“We remain committed to building and operating a world-class entertainment complex,” said Suffolk Downs owner Chip Tuttle.

What the Speaker of the House wants is 1) a race track - slot machine approval and 2) one of the casino's being placed at Suffolk Downs. Obviously this means a "Super Gaming" group of facilities, as well as feeding off local (Boston) entertainment venues, as well as visitor "scouting" trips to Cape Cod, the North Shore, maybe on old Route 1 along the sea coast into Maine, as well as skiing in NH and Vermont in the winter. You have to admit, it could make A LOT of tax revenue for the State. Such Gaming focused areas are sprouting up all over North America, but this would be the first of it's kind in New England. If it happens, it will be a smash hit!

Now.....explain to me why Representative Rodrigues was the only member of Fall River's House delegation to vote AGAINST this bill? Rodrigues was the only local rep to vote against the bill.

I know I'd feel a whole lot better if a senior member of the House of Representatives from this area was in lock step with other Representatives from the region in lobbying for one of the casino's being placed on the Southcoast, even it it's another Mega Gaming area based in Taunton , around the race track. Very curious vote by this clown. I wonder what he's up to? What ever it is, you can bet your last buck that it has something to do with looking out for himself before the interests of the unemployed people of his region. So sadly typical.

Maybe it wasn't close enough to NH to suit him!