CasinoWatch

Mass. residents spent $1.1 billion; DiMasi - bare-knuckles do-gooder; Gambling may be on fall ballot

Bare-knuckles do-gooder
In today's Boston Herald, Casey Ross shows how hard House Speaker Sal DiMasi went at casino-gambling supporters — to the point of awarding lucrative leadership positions to six legislators who had supported expanded gambling in the past. Four voted "no" last week, and the other two missed the vote.
   Naturally, those who were interviewed by Ross deny there was any quid pro quo. But let's say there was an understanding. It would be too cavalier to dismiss it with a "so what?" But this is the way the legislative game has been played for so long that I can only be amused at the outrage over DiMasi's use of strong-arm tactics to stop something that would be of incalculable harm to the state.
   The danger now is that some of these same legislators seem to think they'll get their way in pushing through slot machines at the state's race tracks. Let's hope not. For now, though, I think DiMasi deserves credit for using his muscle for the greater good.  MediaNation.Mass. residents spent $1.1b at nearby gambling venues, study says
Casino foes dispute survey's methodology

Massachusetts residents spent $1.1 billion last year at gambling venues in Connecticut and Rhode Island, shrugging off a shaky economy to top the billion-dollar mark for the fifth consecutive year, according to an annual survey to be released today.
 Connecticut and $195 million at Rhode Island's two slot p
Bay Staters plunked down an estimated $846 million at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos inarlors, according to the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.

While opponents of gambling in Massachusetts have disputed his methods, Clyde W. Barrow, the center's director and an authority on the economic impact of gambling, said the figures show that gambling revenue is resilient, even in the face of an economic downturn.

The study, which is based on the number of Massachusetts license plates counted at the facilities during a five-day span, also seemed to substantiate the potential revenue estimates of Governor Deval Patrick, whose proposal to set up three casinos in the state was defeated by lawmakers last week...  Globe. 
_____

Casinos plan may receive another spin:
Nonbinding question on fall ballot gains support

Love 'em or hate 'em, the Bay State hasn't heard the last of casinos.  Even those opposed to Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to legalize three resort casinos admit the lure of $450 million in revenues means the proposal will persist, especially as Massachusetts veers into grim economic waters for the next few years.  "I think the proponents of casinos will always be pushing their issue because until we have an environment in Massachusetts where there is enough revenue to pay for services, casinos are seen as an easy solution for our fiscal problems," said Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, who opposes legalizing casinos...

"It would be good to have it on the ballot," said Rep. Bill Greene, D-Billerica, who supports casinos. "I don't agree with the governor's plan completely, but with the number of people who go to Connecticut, it seems silly that we don't have something here."  The non-binding ballot question would have to be approved by the House and Senate by July to get on the 2008 ballot. While it won't have any legal recourse, it will give lawmakers political cover from DiMasi's influence, said casino supporter Rep. Brian   TradingMarkets.