Massachusetts Casino and Online Poker Ban Bill Lacks Votes Predicts Rep.

Despite efforts by US Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to convince state representatives to support his casino bill, which includes an online poker and online gambling ban, few have been swayed, according to Rep. Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams), the chair of the Economic Development Committee, in anticipation of the hearing about the casino proposal next Tuesday March 18 at the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

"There's just a couple that have switched their vote," Bosley was quoted saying in an article this week in the Taunton Daily Gazette.

After years of reviewing studies on the impacts of a casino, Bosley opposes the governor's casino proposal, but he's willing to listen to any ideas that promote good economic policy to the commonwealth- something, he says, the three resort casinos cannot deliver.

"I haven't seen anything new that will change my mind to reverse course and change my position," he said.

Despite his opposition to the proposed casinos, Bosley maintains he will give the governor's plan a fair shake when it is presented next Tuesday in Committee.

"We need to be open to any information," he said. "We'll take an honest look at it."

The governor's legislation, filed last October, would license three resort casinos: in Western Massachusetts, Southeastern Massachusetts, and metropolitan Boston.

An earlier Boston Globe article says Patrick claims each casino could generate $200 million to $300 million in licensing fees every 10 years. He is also counting on another $400 million a year for state coffers, gambling revenue that he would use for property tax relief and roads and bridges. The casinos could also create 20,000 jobs.

ONLINE POKER AND ONLINE GAMBLING BAN INCLUDED

Patrick's bill also included an online gambling ban provision. The ban is described in three paragraphs of the bill, and applies to anyone in Massachusetts who places or receives a wager of any type using a telephone, cell phone, Internet, or local wireless network. It also applies to anyone who knowingly installs equipment for transmitting wagers. The provision also specifically exempts the proposed casinos from the law (click here for related article).

REP. FLYNN PUSHES FOR RACINO SLOT MACHINE ALTERNATIVE

Rep. David Flynn (D-Bridgewater) hopes his fellow lawmakers will consider his "racino" slot machine plan as an alternative to the casino bill.

"Everyone knows the commonwealth needs the money," he said.

Although he's not confident his plan to install 2,500 slot machines at each of the state's four racing venues will get approved, Flynn predicts lawmakers will give the plan a second look after the governor's bill is defeated.

"Then I'll have the only game in town," he said.

Weeks before the casino bill goes to a vote in the House of Representatives, Flynn also maintains there aren't enough votes to get it approved.

"There will be no casinos," Flynn said Tuesday.

In his bill, Flynn promises to have slot machines up and running in 110 days, delivering $50 million in annual state revenue and $2 million in annual payments to each host community.

Flynn predicts after the hearing on March 18, the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies will issue a negative, or adverse report on the governor's bill.

"We'll affirm their report," Flynn said. "It's very, very seldom that you overturn a committee report."

Failure of the bill, he said, would jeopardize- at least, for this year- the governor's resort casino plan and his budget proposal, which relies heavily upon revenue from licensing fees to pay for new spending initiatives.

"It's dead this year," Flynn said.

Click here for original article by Tim Faulkner, staff writer for the Taunton Daily Gazette