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Revere Voters Approve Suffolk Downs Casino Plan

Update: Here's Bruce Gellerman's feature on the vote.

Earlier post:

REVERE, Mass. — Voters in Revere on Tuesday approved Mohegan Sun's plan to build a $1.3 billion resort-style casino on land owned by Suffolk Downs.

The Mohegan Sun casino plan will now compete with Wynn Resorts' Everett proposal for the sole eastern Massachusetts casino license.

Revere voters approved a different casino plan at Suffolk Downs in November, but that proposal stretched into East Boston, where residents voted it down. The new proposal would be built on the Revere-only side of Suffolk Downs.

Mohegan Sun says its casino would bring Revere thousands of jobs, and $33 million upfront and at least $25 million in annual payments.

"It's going to be economically transformative for Revere and really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Mohegan Sun CEO Mitchell Etess said.

The proposal has the backing of Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo.

"The best is yet to come for Revere," Rizzo said to a crowd of casino supporters after the votes came in. "This is our time."

Opponents say a casino would bring more traffic, crime and gambling addiction and other social problems.

With reporting by the State House News Service.

This article was originally published on February 25, 2014.

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