Massachusetts lawmakers have been working for years to bring casino resorts to the state, but their efforts have so far been unsuccessful. Now, lobbyists
House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Senate President Therese Murray, and Governor Duval Patrick are all in favor of gambling expansion. The levels to which they are willing to expand, however, are all different. Lobbyists are pressuring all three lawmakers to complete new legislation.
In 2010, over $3 million was spent lobbying for expanded gambling. While it is an extravagant number, spending that type of money has become commonplace in states where gambling expansion is coveted. The lobbying in Massachusetts has led to a divide between DeLeo and Patrick.
The House Speaker wants not only casino resorts, but also at racetracks in the state. That has caused a rift with the governor, who does not want slots at the tracks. Governor Patrick was briefly willing to compromise late last year, but when the House and Senate sent him a bill allowing slots at several tracks, Patrick immediately vetoed the legislation.
A large majority of the lobbying money in 2010 came from Sterling Suffolk Racecourse. The company owns Suffolk Downs, and spent $850,000 pushing lawmakers to authorize slots. The lobbyists are using the usual tactics to bring casinos to Massachusetts.
Suffolk Downs lobbyists claim that adding casino resort gambling will bring thousands of jobs to the state. In addition, Massachusetts would receive millions of dollars in annual tax revenue from the gaming. The state has been looking for ways to bring new jobs to the communities where unemployment has grown over the past couple of years.
DeLeo has already said that he would like to again discuss the gaming issue, but Governor Patrick is urging lawmakers to focus on other issues in the new year. After several failed attempts to add casino resorts, Patrick is now looking towards other industries to bring new jobs to the state.
January 20, 2011
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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