Lawmakers begin drafting final Mass. casino bill

BOSTON -- Massachusetts lawmakers worked overtime to come up with a plan to bring casino gambling to the Bay State on Wednesday.

State lawmakers have agreed to roll the dice on resort-style casinos, but the issue on how many should be built, and whether or not slot machines should be added to the four Massachusetts race tracks have put the package in jeopardy.

“I think gaming is going to be coming to Massachusetts. I am very optimistic now, much more so than before this meeting,” said Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, chair of the Ways and Means Committee.

“Three destination resort casinos is what our position has been,” said Lt. Gov. Tim Murray.

Governor Deval Patrick said he is considering a veto if the plan includes slots.

“My position on slots hasn’t changed. I have a lot of skepticism about slots,” said Gov. Patrick.

Lawmakers said they met an 8:00 p.m. deadline starting to draft a bill on the issues where there is no debate like regulation, Indian gaming and law enforcement, along with where the tax dollars from casinos would go.

Casinos are expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in added revenue, along with 15,000 jobs to the Bay State.

“We believe there is enough time. We are committed to working around the clock to have a bill for the members to consider,” said Haverhill Republican Brian Dempsey.

Opponents said bringing three casinos to Massachusetts is a pretty big gamble.

"A more measured approach: one casino and maybe one racino would probably be the best way to go for the state, rather than jumping in so strongly," said an official.

The final version of the bill has to be drafted by Friday night, and the legislative session is set to wrap up on Saturday.

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