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Opinion
Editorial: Massachusetts in hot seat on gaming


"Although the Mashpee Wampanoag have negotiated for a Middleboro casino expected to win local approval tomorrow, they still need the blessing of state law. Massachusetts has a critical decision to make.

State Treasurer Timothy Cahill's injection of state-licensed private casinos into the debate puts the state in a much stronger bargaining position with respect to a gambling compact with the tribe.

If you buy his argument that taking back gambling revenue from Connecticut is reason enough to bring casinos here, then why wait until Maine and New Hampshire get in the game?

Our northern neighbors haven't legalized full-scale casinos yet, but Maine already has slot machines at racetracks. A legislative committee there rejected a casino bill last month, and the issue remains on the state radar.

Although in-state casinos would probably cause a decline in the Lottery receipts that feed aid to cities and towns, Mr. Cahill predicts that the income from casino gambling could increase aid to municipalities by 50 to 100 percent if the state licenses private casinos in addition to a Wampanoag casino."

Get the Story:
OUR VIEW: Casino deal puts state in hot seat (The Cape Cod Times 6/12)