Mass. Legislative Leaders OK Deal on Casino Bill

Massachusetts House and Senate leaders agreed Friday to the state's most sweeping expansion of gambling in four decades — drawing immediate criticism from Gov. Deval Patrick, who said he can't sign the bill.

The bill would authorize three casinos and two slot machine parlors, the latter of which would be competitively bid upon by the state's four racetrack owners.

Patrick told reporters late Friday that he was disappointed that the bill contained more than one slots parlor and that bidding was limited to the four racetracks. He said he couldn't sign the bill in its current form.

Patrick, who had long opposed slot parlors, said Thursday that he could accept one provided it would be open to bid by anyone, to help break the legislative logjam.

"I was serious," Patrick said Friday. "I didn't agree to two. I didn't say give me one and let's talk. I said one."

Lawmakers must approve the bill before formal sessions end at midnight Saturday.

The governor could veto the bill or send it back with amendments. That would require the Legislature to come back into a formal session to either override his veto or respond to his amendments. The Legislature could also vote to amend the compromise bill before voting on it.

Senate President Therese Murray had rejected a call by Patrick earlier in the week to extend the formal session beyond Saturday if needed.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he hoped Patrick would reconsider his opposition once he looked at the bill in detail.

"The governor is a reasonable guy," he said.

Under the bill, the state would receive $85 million from each of the casino licenses and $20-$25 million from the licenses for the racetrack slot parlors, also known as racinos. Each of the two racinos would be allowed to have between 1,000 and 1,250 slot machines, depending on their location.

Patrick said that since two of the state's racetracks — Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere and Suffolk Downs racetrack in East Boston — are pursuing a casino license, the two slot parlor licenses would automatically go to the state's two remaining tracks.