Massachusetts Racecourse Makes First Layoffs

Governor Deval Patrick is being blamed for the first round of layoffs following his public refusal to sign a gambling expansion bill passed by Legislative leaders.

Although Patrick has returned a markup of the bill in language he will accept, casinos and slot machines at the states racetracks are not expected to come to fruition any time soon.

With the uncertainty surrounding what the bill will allow and when it might be finalized, the owner of the Plainridge Racecourse just south of Boston, has had to lay off 57 track employees and 100 contractors.

Owner Gary Piontkowski said that he was investing $200 million into the racetrack for an expansion project that would have been used to bring slot machines to the track.

Piontkowski made no secret of the fact that he blamed the Governor.

“The governor obviously doesn’t think that the jobs or expansion at the racetracks are worthwhile,” he said. “Now families we’ve employed for years are wondering where their next paycheck will come from.”

Experts have said that without the gambling bill Massachusetts could lose approximately 15,000 jobs.