A legislator leaves the House Chamber as debate continues on the last day of formal session at the... 
(AP)
/ Money
Mass. Lawmakers Give Initial OK to Casino Bill
Mass. lawmakers give initial OK to 3 casino, 2 slot parlor bill; Gov. Patrick opposed
BOSTON July 31, 2010 (AP)
The Massachusetts Legislature gave initial approval Saturday to a casino bill that would create the most sweeping expansion of gambling in the state in four decades, even as Gov. Deval Patrick opposed the measure.
The bill would authorize three casinos and two slot machine parlors, to be bid on by the state's four racetrack owners.
Currently, Massachusetts allows lottery games, horse racing and simulcasting of out-of-state horse and dog races.
The votes — 25-15 in the Senate and 115-36 in the House — were the first hurdles toward moving the bill to Patrick's desk. A series of additional votes are required before the Legislature can end its formal session by midnight Saturday.
Patrick said he would send the bill back to lawmakers recommending changes. Long opposed to slot machine parlors, he said he would agree to one slot parlor license that is open to all bidders.
Under the compromise bill, the state would receive $85 million from each of the casino licenses and $20 million to $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.
Casino supporters argued that Massachusetts has been losing gambling dollars when residents travel to nearby Connecticut and Rhode Island to bet.
The votes spotlighted increasing tension between the Democratic governor and fellow Democrat House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who supports racetrack slots. Two of the state's tracks — Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere and Suffolk Downs racetrack in East Boston — are in the DeLeo's Winthrop-based district.
After the governor previously vowed not to sign the bill if it came to his desk, DeLeo chided Patrick.
"I find it hard to believe that Governor Patrick will veto 15,000 jobs and the prospect of immediate local aid funds for cities and towns," DeLeo said in a statement Friday.
