Casino opponents are criticizing Governor Deval Patrick for hiring an outside gaming analyst to do a study of his casino legislation, offering a preemptive strike on its conclusions by tagging the consultant as procasino.
Administration officials hired Spectrum Gaming Group of New Jersey last week to analyze the governor's plan to license three casinos in Massachusetts. The firm is being paid $189,000 and is expected to complete its study within two to three months.
Casino Free Mass, a coalition of organizations opposed to casinos, called on Patrick yesterday to rescind the contract because the organization is biased.
"This is just another example of how the casino industry tries to control the information and rig their games," Doug Bailey, a spokesman for the group, said in a written statement. "This study, whatever it says, will be dead on arrival."
But administration officials said the firm is independent and stressed that it was hired through an outside bidding process. The administration extended the period when groups could bid on the contract, but Spectrum Gaming was the only group to respond.
"Spectrum Gaming is an independent, third-party firm with specific expertise in the gaming industry," said Kofi Jones, spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. "Most of their work is on behalf of government agencies around the world, where they have performed extensive economic-impact and feasibility studies."
Spectrum Gaming has been hired by a wide range of groups, including
Opponents have frequently criticized the Patrick administration's projections that three casinos would generate 30,000 construction jobs, 20,000 new and permanent jobs, and $400 million in annual state revenue. Patrick said in December that the administration would hire an outside consultant to review his estimates.
Representatives of the firm will examine the saturation point for gambling in New England, revenue projections, and the potential impact on the state lottery. They will also answer questions from legislators. The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is also conducting a study that will be released in the next several weeks.
Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.
