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Patrick yields ground on casino bill, says one slot parlor OK

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 29, 2010 05:26 PM

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

In a significant shift in his public position, Governor Deval Patrick said this afternoon that he would sign a casino gambling bill with one slot parlor and three full-scale casinos if legislators agreed to break a "logjam" on other unrelated measures.

Patrick has previously said he opposed slot parlors at racetracks and reiterated Wednesday that they would not provide as much economic benefit as full-scale casinos. But, in challenging the Legislature today, he said he was willing to accept one slot parlor if it was competitively bid and the process was transparent, provided legislators move about a half dozen bills -- including some related to crime, health care costs and economic development -- in the final 48 hours of the session.

Patrick delivered the message to legislative leaders in person late this afternoon, followed by a gaggle of reporters, moving quickly from his office to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo's office, then to the Senate chamber, where he spoke with Senate President Therese Murray.

Sources have told the Globe that legislative negotiators have been discussing authorizing, along with three casinos, two slot parlors that may be housed either at the state's four racetracks or elsewhere. They have not announced a deal publicly. Patrick said he would not support two slot parlors.

"I'm at one, if I go there at all," he said.

He said that "ideally" the bidding would be open to venues beyond racetracks, but he did not rule out a four-way competition between the four racetracks in the state.

It is unclear how lawmakers will respond.

With the clock ticking down towards the end of the legislative session on Saturday, House and Senate negotiators have been unable to come up with a compromise bill to expand gambling in the state.

DeLeo, Murray, and Patrick all support expanded gambling in Massachusetts, but the devil has been in the details. DeLeo, whose district includes two struggling racetracks, wanted to allow slot machines at the racetracks. Murray was initially opposed to slots at the tracks, but has appeared increasingly open to compromise. Patrick has consistently opposed slots at the tracks.

An aide briefed on the negotiations told the Globe on Wednesday that the House and Senate had agreed to add some slots, but differed on where. DeLeo argued that only racetracks should be allowed to bid for the licenses; Murray wanted to allow others to bid, but would give a preference to racetracks.