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Massachusetts Casino Talks to Continue

Posted on February 25th, 2011

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Governor Patrick suggested last Thursday that Massachusetts will be resuming talks about expanding its gambling capabilities. However, although state lawmakers are open for consideration on the casino gambling under their jurisdiction, slot machines at race tracks will still be under debate with the House Speaker Robert DeLeo. Issue are expected to be discussed next week and gambling expansion in the state of Massachusetts will be among the agenda.

The Governor’s monthly appearance on WTKK-FM is often a source for new scoops and accordingly, Patrick had said that he and the Speaker of the House had discussions about casino gambling in Massachusetts in recent weeks. He also said that the details of the discussions were roughly sketchy and not thoroughly planned yet, but he did confirm that he is planning for further discussions in the future. Governor Patrick declined signing the bill for a three resort-style casino and slot parlors to be established at two of Massachusetts’ four race tracks. Patrick did not agree with what was stated in the bill since it had or would have the bid monopolized only by track owners. He said that the auction should be open to the public and not just these specific companies.

Wonderland in Revere and Suffolk Downs in Boston, the tracks that would host the proposed slot parlors, happen to be located in DeLeo’s district. “I have been as clear as possible that no-bid contracts for track owners are off the table for me,” said Governor Patrick, who was also skeptical about the potential job opportunities slot parlors would create because these machines do not need a significant amount of supervision in order to be operated. He pointed out that the maximum number of employees in a slot parlor would be close to 20 or even less and does not offer any significant job opportunities at all.

Patrick wants to be done with the gambling issue as soon as possible since according to him, the publicity that gambling has gained as a potential for job opportunities shifted the crowd’s attention from the more critical issues that the Statehouse should be tackling. “It sucks all of the oxygen out of the building,” he added. Governor Patrick also promised that he will not seek out the counsel of his former top political strategist Dough Rubin on the issue of casinos in Massachusetts. Rubin is currently lobbying for a business firm that has connections with the state lottery. The Rhode Island-based company, Gtech Corp. reportedly became a client for Rubin’s consulting firm, Northwind Strategies.

Patrick said he “thinks the world” of Rubin and has high respects for him, but the governor would not want to have to do anything with him right now, especially with his position that would cause a conflict of interest in the gambling expansion issue. “Doug and I will not have any conversations about gambling if the issue comes up,” the governor said. In an interview with The Boston Globe, Rubin reciprocated the governor’s concerns and was quoted as saying “I would never put the elected officials I have worked with in a difficult situation by directly lobbying them on behalf of a specific issue,”.

Governor Patrick has a long out-of-state travel list this year, starting from a March 5, 2011 Democratic Party dinner in Colorado, to a trip to Israel and The United Kingdom for a trade mission that would last for 10 days. In spring, he plans to go on a book signing tour for his newly published book “A Reason to Believe.” The out-of-state travels have risen as an issue because Patrick’s predecessor had frequent out-of-state trips that were criticized by the constituents. When asked about his predecessors out-of-state travels, Patrick merely dodged the question. He has, however, reassured his constituents that he would not be leaving the same legacy as his predecessor. Patrick maintains that the travels will only be undertaken if it would redound to the benefit of his constituents.

The casino talks are expected to be discussed among many of the key issues in Massachusetts once the Legislature reconvenes. Analysts believe that lawmakers will be going at the issue with a renewed vigor since most want the issue to be settled in order to make room for other critical topics.