Boston mayor to name casino advisory panel

BOSTON (AP) -- Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is set to appoint a panel that will help the city plan for the possibility resort casino at the Suffolk Downs horse track.

Menino is scheduled to announce formation of the Host Community Advisory Committee at a City Hall news conference on Thursday. According to the mayor's office, the committee's task will be to ensure "integrity, accountability and transparency" should a casino be approved for the city.

The announcement comes one day after the operators of Suffolk Downs formally asked the cities of Boston and Revere to begin host community negotiations for a casino. The track in the East Boston neighborhood straddles both cities.

The state's new gaming law allows up to three resort casinos in Massachusetts, including one in the eastern part of the state.

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