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Gambling opposition hopes for gambling bill deadline

Posted on June 23rd, 2010

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Time may be running out for the expanded gambling bill. Still, legislators have not reached a consensus on whether or not to allow additional gaming and gambling machines to be enforced in certain states within the year. Groups such as United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts opposing the furthering of the expanded gambling bill are saying that senators that may be voting for the bill are only doing so just to be done with it. USS President Kathleen Conley Norbut and Board Member Fred Berman both agree that the projected benefits of the expanded gambling bill do not outweigh the costs of the bill, especially in terms of local employment.

The Senate has only agreed to legalize 3 casinos but no slots on racing tracks. The House on the other hand has agreed to legalize 750 slot machines on race tracks and 2 casinos. Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts comes in agreement to the Senate’s standing, saying that his office is not closing its doors to people and groups that are pro racinos but his stand remains in opposing the proposition. Kofi Jones, Patrick’s Spokeswoman said, “We appreciate the Senate’s proposal as a thoughtful contribution to the debate and we look forward to working with the House and Senate as we move through the process. We appreciate their focus on three resort casinos and job creation.” On another side, Robert DeLeo, the leading Speaker that proposed for the racino cause has released a statement saying “Obviously, I think it would be preferable if it came out of the Senate itself, but as long as the bill at the end of the day has it in, that’s what I would hope for,”

Supporters of the bill are seeing renewed hope and are confident to get enough votes to win their cause, and they are only waiting on key people such as Governor Patrick’s input. However, USS Conley Norbut said that even Senator Stanley Rosenberg, one of the major players in the senate regarding the gambling bill, is feeling the need to just go with the flow of things, “they’re ( Rosenberg and other legislators) not even in favor of going in this direction but due to the longtime pressure, the millions of dollars spent by special interests, you know it seems that some of them have been drinking the Kool-Aid a little bit too long and feel that they need to go in this direction.”

Senator Marc Pacheco, pushing on the positive side of the bill said “I don’t know if that’s a possibility” when asked if he thinks the bill will be defeated in the end due to the inability to reach an agreement from opposing groups. He himself was a former dog track representative and is pushing for the legalization of racinos. To him the bill is “ about really trying to create these jobs and to generate a new source of revenue that’s in addition to what we have available to us right now so we can apply that to future budgets.” He adds that he is decided “to do everything I can to make sure slots at the tracks are there, including employing every parliamentary maneuver and procedure that I may have available to me” but he is quick to correct that he won’t take out anyone that will disagree.

Pacheco is siding with House’s 750 slots per racetrack and is also lobbying for the simulcasting law to be extended, as the provision for simulcasting races expires by the end of July. Simulcasting live races is a major revenue generating activity for race tracks. Pacheco has estimated $300 million revenue from racinos annually.

The bill, released on Friday, is due for amendment on Monday around 5 pm and is scheduled for floor debate on Wednesday.