MA: DeLeo Wants Casinos and Racinos
As expected, House Speaker Robert DeLeo made his pitch Thursday for an expansion of gambling in Massachusetts to include both destination casino resorts and a limited number of slots at the state’s four racetracks.
DeLeo intends to introduce a bill with his proposals within a month.
DeLeo, who is proposing the gaming expansion in hopes of creating job growth in a down economy, is in support of two resort casinos in the state.
“Permit too many venues and we run the risk of dooming them from the start,” said DeLeo. “If we allow too few, we risk failing to maximize our investment.”
NJ SLOT WAR BEGINS; BREAK FOR REVEL
With new Gov. Chris Christie appearing to have opened the door, the war over VLTs at racetracks has officially begun.
The New Jersey Sport and Exposition Authority says it wants slots at Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks.
The pitch came from Authority President Dennis Robinson before the Senate Legislative and Oversight Committee, the Press of Atlantic City reported.
For several years, the Authority has been low-key about its desire for slots, instead accepting a purse subsidy from casinos.
But the possibility of slots at racetracks has popped up recently when Christie said he would be open minded to any way to improve state finances.
That has prompted South Jersey legislators to vow to fight slots as they try to protect Atlantic City casinos already slammed by growing slots competition from Pennsylvania and New York.
Meanwhile, Christie has refused so far to give public support to a proposed tax break needed for Revel Entertainment to complete its Atlantic City casino, the Press of Atlantic City reported.
The $300 million tax break would help Revel get the financing it needs to complete the $2.5 billion project.