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Senate Gambling Debate Continues On Day 3

The Massachusetts Senate's floor debate on casino gambling is starting to feel like that three-day-long Wimbledon match that ended Thursday after 183 games.

On Friday morning, debate over legislation to license three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts began its third day in the state Senate, as lawmakers work through the 164 amendments to the bill.

On Thursday, opponents were able to pass one that would ban smoking in casinos. Senate Republican leader and casino supporter Richard Tisei sarcastically criticized the amendment, saying it makes casino licenses less attractive to developers.

"And I’m sure we’ll get to the point where we ban drinking, and the casinos can only be open, you know, from 9 to 12," Tisei said. On Friday, in fact, Tisei filed an amendment to ban trans-fats in casinos — an amendment he filed in jest, really.

But casino supporters were successful in defeating a move to require a Boston city-wide vote for any resort-style casino within the city limits. That eases the path for one in East Boston.

This program aired on June 25, 2010. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Curt Nickisch

Curt Nickisch Business & Technology Reporter
Curt Nickisch was formerly WBUR's business and technology reporter.

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