Massachusetts Gambling Bill Likely At An Impasse

Less than two weeks from the end of the Legislative session, a compromise between the House and Senate bill allowing gambling expansion in Massachusetts has yet to materialize.

“As they work through their differences, they also know they’re going to have to either get something to me that I can support or they’re going to have to send something to me with a veto-proof margin” Governor Deval Patrick said.

Governor Patrick has said that he does not support slot machines at the state’s four racetracks, which is the main dividing factor between the two cabinets.

The original House bill calls for two casinos and a combined maximum of 750 slot machines at the racetracks, however the original Senate bill supports three casinos and no slot machines.

The Senate’s latest compromise calls for one racino with 750 machines and three resort casinos, however the House countered with two racinos with a maximum of 1,500 slot machines and increasing the number of resort casinos to three.

While the Senate has suggested that they are unlikely to have the votes to support more than one racino the House plan is still under consideration.