Casinos in Massachusetts??

State commitees are now meeting to discuss Casinos as a way of boosting state cash flow of Massachusetts. Does anyone have information about what these places would be like? Large resorts? Small gaming rooms? Poker?

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Whoa. You're getting way ahead of yourself. If you know anything about Massachusetts politics, you'll understand that casinos are years and years off, the way the pols work here. I'd say, check back in 2015 or 2025 for an estimate of what decade we can expect them.

My guess is, if we expedite things, we can have casinos in Mass by 2150, about 50 years before they build the Red Sox a new ballpark. /forums/images/icons/mad.gif

I disagree. Mitt wants to get this done. Mass has the most successful lottery in the country, and they are aware that tons of money goes to Xwoods everyday. I think you will see a casino on the waterfront in the next few years. They are building that convention center and have no interest from anyone in booking conventions. The hotels have all balked about buliding down there since 911. They don't want egg on their face if the convention center flops. They realize that a casino would turn Boston into the number 1 convention site in the country. It would cause major developemnet in Soutie and East Boston, as well as supply a zillion jobs and I beleive they are pushing to make it State funded, so Mass would keep the revenue without having to pay an indian tribe. You can see the groundwork being laid already. Todays Herald had a front page article about how cruise gambling is so bad since it ids't regulated, They are planting the seeds to win public support. This will happen, butI say my prayers every night that it happens soon.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

All kidding aside, I hope you're right. Unfortunately, I've lived in Mass for too long to believe that anything that involves the Pols can move fast. Add to that that despite the liberal-democrat leaning of the state, there is a very conservative bent on things like this. Channel 7 news just yesterday showed Mitt and a few Democrats speaking positively about the idea, yet every person they asked on the street recited the tired mantra of "it will bring in organized crime." It was defeated soundly a couple of years ago. I'll believe it when I see it.

[youtalkfunny]

If you ran that lottery, would you invite competition?

I'd love to see Salisbury get casinos, though. That might even prompt me to move back to Mass.

NAAAAAAHHHH!!!

[budman]

I live in New England, and my impression of Yankees is that they are so conservative that nothing controversial ever gets done.

As with all politics, it is easier to play defense than offense. That is, it is far easier to keep a law the way it is than it is to change it.

I live in Hartford, CT. We had Steve Wynn looking to put a casino/ convention center/ hotel in downtown Hartford. This would have been an unreal boost to our city. Unfortunately, the conservative politicians killed the idea.

Now we have the world's largest and third largest casinos in the state, with little regulatory and tax control over what happens there.

There is a tribe whose tribal land spans both Connecticut and Mass. They would like to build in the Union, CT or Sturbridge, Mass area. They are up against heavy oposition in both areas. I don't think they have finished their federal tribal recognition process yet.

In the meantime, come on down to Foxwoods or to the Mohegan Sun.