Massachusetts Democrant

Slots of Fun on the Cape?

With what seems to be the initial Federal recognition of the Wampanoag Tribe happening today, that news must be considered with the deliberations on allowing slots machines in Massachusetts. Once that genie is out of the bottle, it would allow the Wampanoags to build a casino on the Cape. I don't know what the implications would be in terms of degree of control any of our local oversight bodies would have over this.

Is this the kind of development people would like to see on the Cape? My gut says the whatever local economic benefits there would be, are more than offset by a number of quality of life issues. Still, it is only a gut feeling, and more information would be forthcoming further down the road, if the road is even taken.

While the State Senate overwhelmingly approved slots by a 29-7 vote, Speaker DiMasi has spoken out against this. Then again, the Speaker was in favor of the tuition aid bill for children of illegal immigrants, and that failed. Still, the House would need to come up with a favorable vote that was more than the 2/3's needed to override the promised Romney veto on this.

Nevertheless, it still brings up the interesting issue to ponder as to the implications of a casino on Cape Cod.