State Senate rejects plan to allow slots at racetracks

The Senate also voted, 29 to 8, against a proposal to delay by two years the implementation of a new law banning dog racing on Jan. 1, 2010. The law, approved by voters in November as part of a ballot initiative, will effectively close two racetracks, Wonderland Greyhound Racetrack in Revere and the Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park.

The three-hour debate on both issues was a prelude to a much more vigorous discussion expected to take place in several months. The state’s top political leaders – House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, Senate President Therese Murray, and Governor Deval Patrick – have all agreed to address the issue again in the fall.

And while almost every Senate Democrat voted against the slots proposal, they made clear that they weren’t against gambling, only against dealing with it quickly as part of the budget.

“Make no mistake,” said Senator Stanley Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat. “We are very close to turning the corner here and having the final real debate, at which point we are going to have to come to grips with a whole series of policy questions.”

Rosenberg has been tapped by Murray to study the issue of expanded gambling, and he said it would take at least 12 months from the time a law was signed before the state would start reaping any revenue from slot machines.

Opponents to gambling also polished their arguments, saying expanded gambling would exploit vulnerable residents and would not bring in as much revenue as proponents contend.

“The benefits here are paltry, the costs are overwhelming,” said Senator Susan Tucker, an Andover Democrat and chief gambling opponent. “Gambling revenue is regressive. You can’t find a more regressive form of taxation.”