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Boston Mayor Asks Regulators To Delay Casino Decision

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is asking state gambling regulators to halt the process for awarding the Boston-area casino license until after a November vote on the casino law.

Walsh announced Thursday he has sent a letter to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission asking that it stay all proceedings on issuing of the eastern region casino license until the fate of the state's 2011 casino law is decided.

"I feel that there's still a lot of questions we don't have answered," Walsh said. "I'd ask them to put it off until after the voters of Massachusetts decide which way they want to go."

Walsh said he doesn't want to continue spending taxpayer dollars on negotiations with the two Boston-area casino applicants, Mohegan Sun and Wynn, on surrounding community impact agreements while the law itself is uncertain.

The state's highest court cleared the way on Tuesday for the repeal question to be on the ballot.

The gaming commission has said it intends to continue with the licensing process despite the ruling.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom.

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This article was originally published on June 26, 2014.

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