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AG Coakley: 'Not Sure How I'd Vote On Casino Repeal'

Attorney General Martha Coakley says she doesn't know how she'd vote on a proposed ballot question that would repeal the state's casino law.

Coakley, who is running for governor next year, says casino gambling isn't the first place she would have looked for economic development.

The Democrat said she'd want to take a look at the state of the economy and what the returns would be and whether, at this stage, casinos are a good deal for Massachusetts.

The 2011 law allows for up to three casinos and one slots parlor.

Coakley's office initially ruled the casino question unconstitutional, but supporters are appealing to the state's highest court.

Coakley said she's also undecided about a question that would repeal a new law linking future hikes in the gas tax to the rate of inflation.

Fellow Democratic candidate for governor Donald Berwick, a former top Obama administration health care official, said Thursday he's backing the casino repeal effort.

Berwick said the cost of casinos, including an anticipated rise in gambling addiction, isn't worth any economic benefit the state might see.

Berwick also said any net new revenues for the state budget will be less than hoped, because of a trade-off between casino income and the state lottery.

This program aired on December 6, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.

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