RSSMassachusetts Opens the Doors for Casino Operators
Jul 02
Politics and Nation Comments Off
Paving the way for casinos in the State of Massachusetts, the state Senate voted yesterday 25-15 in favor of approving a bill to license three resort-style casinos in the state. The state House of Representatives had previously voted in favor of casino development back in April.
The U.S. Department of the Interior, which reviews applications for American Indians to develop gaming on tribal lands, was reportedly set to approve the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe for Class II gaming, electronic bingo machines. The state, wary of losing out on potential tax revenue from gaming, needed to move forward with a plan to license casinos in order to maintain state control over gaming development. In some states, tax on casino revenue is as high as 60%, providing a significant budget boost. The casino could also spur construction work and job creation, and give Massachusetts additional appeal as a tourist destination. The downside are potential social costs associated with drinking and gambling addiction, although those kind of intangible arguments are rarely persuasive when it comes to casino development which is a big ticket operation. With dollar signs in their eyes, approval was almost a guarantee in the Senate, particularly after the House had already passed its own legislation.
