Posted on Monday, 21st September 2009 by admin
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo has joined with his state senate counterpart, Senate President Therese Murray, in moving forward with legislation that would legalize casino gambling in the state. The legislative leaders agreed that the inclusion of land-based casinos would help to bring new jobs and increased tax revenue to the state’s coffers in this harsh economic climate. The legislators may work on drafting a casino bill within sixty days.
Speaker DeLeo has favored increased gambling options for Massachusetts’s citizens in order to build up the state’s tax base, but has previously only considered the options of installing slot machines in the state’s racetrack facilities. With the potential for new development of large casino resorts, including luxury shopping, hotels and golf courses, combined with the popularity of sites such as Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, he has been considering the casino option.
Senate President Murray, in a speech to a local area business group, stated that thousands Massachusettians are spending “hundreds of millions of dollars” each year in Connecticut casinos and that state officials need to spend the time and effort to consider how to keep that cash flow within their state. She also told business leaders that casinos would bring numerous jobs in construction, hospitality and other industries.
Last year, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick had planned to issue licenses to three casino facilities. However, the previous House Speaker, Representative Salvatore DiMasi, blocked his plan. Mr. DiMasi lost his last bid for re-election, so now many citizens are anticipating a fast expansion of gaming options within the state.
Governor Patrick emphasized to reporters that his plans for allowing casinos in the state would create new jobs, establish a new source of tax revenue for the struggling state budget, and would minimize – but not entirely eliminate – any potentially harmful aspects of casino gambling expansion.
Tags: gambling
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