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Bill introduced to State Senate ensures that Western Massachusetts will get Casino

The June 21, 2023, By Christopher F. Wood

A bill introduced to the State Senate last week would ensure that Massachusetts will get its share of the billions of dollars in tax revenue that casino gambling advocated say will bring into the state.

The bill calls for the construction of three casinos inside the state, including a facility in one of the state’s Western Counties.

The Senate bill is more congenial to Western Massachusetts than a bill previously passed by the House of Representatives which called for the construction of only two casino, and 750 slot machines at the two horse racing tracks in the state. More importantly, however, the House bill contains no guarantee that a casino would be built in Western Massachusetts, even though Mohegan Sun showed interest in building a $600 million dollar casino resort near Palmer.

If the state is going to allow casino gambling, Western Massachusetts, it is imperative that Western Massachusetts get one. Casinos will bring in thousands of new jobs to the sorely needy region, while providing the State with much needed tax revenue. Officials at Mohegan Sun say the Palmer casino could create 2,500 to 3,000 permanent jobs and 1,200 construction jobs.

When state Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg, D-Amherst, announced last week he was throwing his support behind casino gambling, he pointed out that the Bay State loses more than $1 billion a year in gambling dollars to Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island.

“Massachusetts players are going there in droves,” he said. “We get no revenues and no job benefits.”

The full Senate expects to begin debate on the measure this week, and legislators hope to have a final bill for the governor in July. The Senate should fight to ensure that a Western Massachusetts casino remains in the bill that emerges from the House-Senate reconciliation process.

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