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Senate joins House in passing casino bill

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 31, 2010 03:33 PM

By Andrea Estes and Kathy McCabe, Globe Staff

The Massachusetts Senate has just joined the House in approving a compromise gaming bill that would authorize three resort style casinos and two slot parlors at racetracks.

The Senate voted 25 to 15 in favor of the bill, a closer margin than in the House, where 117 members voted for the bill, with 36 against.

But the bill's future is uncertain. Governor Deval Patrick said this afternoon that he will not sign the bill but will return it with an amendment, lowering the number of slot parlors to one. In addition, the slot licenses would be open to any bidder -- not just the state's four racetracks.

The bill, which came out of a House and Senate conference committee last night, would generate about $300 million for the state in one-time licensing fees and $400 million more in annual casino and slot taxes, once the facilities were up and running, lawmakers said.

Gambling was one of several key pieces of legislation being debated on Beacon Hill in the final hours of the two year legislative session. The measures include a sales tax holiday, a bill that would limit access to criminal records and a measure that seeks to lower health care costs for small businesses.

State Representative Brian Dempsey, a Haverhill Democrat who was a key negotiator on the bill, praised his colleagues for approving the gambling bill in such large numbers. " I'm certainly pleased with the vote," he said, standing outside the House chamber just moments after casting his own vote in favor of the legislation.

Dempsey said he hoped Patrick would decide to endorse the bill "We feel we have sent the governor a very good bill. It's a bill that will create a lot of jobs ... We hope he considers that."

State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester), a supporter, said a key factor for her was a provision of the bill that will earmark money to offset any impact to cultural and tourist attractions. The bill sets aside 1.5 percent of revenues for cultural mitigation, 1 percent to the Massachusetts Cultural Council and .5 percent for the state tourism department.

"Tourism is an important industry for my district," Ferrante said, citing the Gloucester Stage Company and Rockport Chamber Music Hall as examples of attractions that could face competition from entertainers at casinos. "There would be financial help for those venues, if they were in any way harmed by a casino."