Gambling Petition to be Heard in Massachusetts

December 15, 2007

December 18th, 2007 will be an important day for the gambling community of Boston as an important petition that was filed by Governor Deval Patrick will be heard on Beacon Hill (The Massachusetts State House in Boston).

There has been a huge push to broaden gaming in Massachusetts and the purpose for Governor Patrick’s petition is for the licensing of three full scale resort casinos by the year 2012 in Southeastern Massachusetts, Greater Boston and West Boston.

Indian Tribes might be bidding for a private casino license as well, for a casino in Middleboro. State House officials state economic growth, government revenue and new jobs will be at the forefront at this hearing.

Hosting the hearing will be The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets and Representative David Flynn. They have been sending out invitations to the hearing to gambling proponents as well as adversaries on the issues of gambling.

Some of these invitees are state union executives who find favor with casino development, who are for Casino Developer and Suffolk Down Controller, Richard Fields, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, district attorneys, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman and Donald Trump.

It’s unclear if Donald Trump will actually be attending due to other obligations pertaining to the Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere on the issue of submitting a bid for a casino in Greater Boston.

Opponents of the issue state that these casinos would have an impact on social problems not to mention become too enticing to the Beacon Hill budget writers on the issue of gambling revenue. They do not foresee lasting effects and benefits economically.

Democratic Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven C. Panagiotakos has said, “At the end of the day, you would have $400 million to $450 million a year in new revenue.” Panagiotakos feels the gambling revenue would help provide funds for the state to repair roads, bridges in desperate need of repair and community property tax relief.