Mass. Gambling Proposals Delayed Until 2010

By Meghna Chakrabarti
Sep 29, 2009, 8:56 AM
7 Comments

Casino gambling is back on the table in Beacon Hill, but don’t bet on a bill passing anytime soon. While the odds are better that a casino gambling bill will make its way through the Legislature, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said it would not happen this year.

“To say that we’ll have a bill on the governor’s desk by the end of this year, I think will be a difficult task,” DeLeo said after a leadership meeting with Senate President Therese Murray and Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday.

However, DeLeo said he wants issues such as how many casinos, where they would go and how they would be taxed hammered out soon. He said he expects that to happen when hearings on gaming begin next month.

Both DeLeo and Murray seemed confident that a gambling bill would land on the governor’s desk next year. Murray said it would be one of the first issues the Senate takes up in early 2010.

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JM

To bad we need it now, people need jobs and the licensing fees would have gave us a revenue boost, but next year better then no Casinos.
Christian Muriel

I believe that a casino resortin Massachusetts would bring a lot of money and attention tothe state.
Jeff

The casino bill lost by a huge margin last year. Any new bill has a chance but thats about it. As far as jobs and revenue: All the high paying jobs will go to qualified people, dealers, managers, security. The bulk of the oppurtunity lies within the min. wage sector.
And revenue? Let me just bring up Ciggy tax, meal tax etc. The were all going to be the icing on the cake, and the has been pushed down our throats for years. We don’t need casinos, they’ll bring new, costly (there goes the revenue)problems to the state.
SB

What we need is real jobs, that produce something benefical to society, or at least are not harmfull. Relying on addiction to fund social programs is just a viscious circle.
H.M.S.

True casinos create millions in revenue,but they also create costly problems. Would you really want a casino in your town or city? Get some real facts before it’s too late. Everyone is a NIMBY. I get the sense that maybe, if anywhere, casino’s belong in metro areas, but I’m sold on them.I think the jobs and revenue claims may be stretched a little bit.
PLP

Casino’s? NO! Revenue – Costs = Loser.
http://www.mayflowerhvacr.com Mario

No disrespect, but since the Casino always wins, the result is casino’s produce losers.

Those whom want casino’s like Deleo, Pacheco and Murry need to lose their next election….or we will create a state with losers that those whom do things correct…will have to support.

AIG, GM….allowing casino’s is a shortsighted solution, as was bailing out AIG, and GM….

We really need to avoid this huge mistake.

Sure licensing will give the state a one time boost to temporarily fix our budget problems….but this is only a band aid and will re-suface..

Tell you senator, representative or selectmen…lets get rid of the waste….not create more of it.