IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG for the powerful casino industry to muscle its way into Massachusetts politics. Beginning in the early 2000s, corporate lobbyists began giving unprecedented amounts of money to […]
Rolling the Dice
Coverage of casino licensing and the gambling referendum
Posted inGambling
Wynn changing Everett — for the better
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING ACT was enacted by the Legislature in 2011 specifically to create new jobs, generate new tax revenue, and propel local economic growth. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the […]
Posted inGambling
Are thoroughbreds a good bet for the state?
TEN HORSES SHOOT OUT of the gate with Simply Mas moving quickly to take the lead. The pack bunches up at the first turn, with Worth the Worry moving up […]
Posted inGambling
Crosby: Thoroughbred racing can be saved
THE STATE’S ON-THE-ROPES thoroughbred racing industry can be resurrected, the chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said in a letter to the Legislature on Wednesday. Stephen Crosby, the chairman of […]
Posted inGambling
Gaming Commission: Hands off horse fund
STILL HOPEFUL THEY CAN REVIVE thoroughbred racing in the state, the members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday said they intend to lobby lawmakers to leave intact a fund […]
Posted inGambling
Idle horse race funds attracting interest
IT’S DANGEROUS TO LEAVE millions of dollars lying around these days on Beacon Hill. Someone is likely to snatch the money. The state’s Horse Race Development Fund is a case […]
Posted inGambling
Wynn: Building in Boston is expensive
STEVE WYNN TOLD FINANCIAL ANALYSTS on Tuesday that he has been very surprised at how much it is costing to build his hotel and casino in Everett. As previously reported, […]
Posted inGambling
Rosenberg pans casino last call provision
SENATE PRESIDENT STANLEY ROSENBERG said on Thursday he was not a fan of a House proposal that could allow Massachusetts casinos to serve alcohol to patrons for an additional two […]
Posted inGambling
A later last call for casinos?
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION could allow casinos to sell liquor to gamblers an extra two hours – until 4 a.m. – under an outside section of the House Ways and […]
Posted inGambling, State House News Service
Court decision opens door to Vineyard casino
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT on Monday overturned a lower court ruling that had denied the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head the right to build a […]
Posted inEconomy, Gambling
Wynn shipping contaminated soil around nation
THE CLEANUP OF the Wynn Resorts casino site in Everett is a case of addition through subtraction. Before the Wynn tower could start going up, all of the contaminated soil […]
Posted inGambling
SJC opens casino can of worms
THE STATE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT reopened the casino legal wars on Friday, ruling that Mohegan Sun can challenge the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s decision in late 2014 to award a license […]
Posted inGambling, State House News Service
CT tribes plan casino 13 miles from MA
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The competition for western New England gambling dollars heated up Monday when the two tribes operating casinos in Connecticut announced their plan to build a third […]
Posted inGambling
Wynn casino price tag goes up $300m
WYNN RESORTS DISCLOSED on Friday that the estimated cost of building its Everett casino has risen to approximately $2.4 billion, a $300 million increase from estimates as recently as August. […]
Posted inEconomy, Gambling
Buzz building about Suffolk Downs sale
RESIDENTS OF EAST BOSTON and Revere say they are hearing a sale of Suffolk Downs is imminent, but officials at the track say they have nothing to report. “We’ve fielded […]
Posted inGambling
Slots parlor not hurting lottery sales
A STUDY COMMISSIONED by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission suggests the opening of the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville in June 2015 did not cannibalize lottery sales in the surrounding area. […]
Posted inGambling, State House News Service
Plainridge says it’s doing very well
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE ONA PER-MACHINE BASIS, the slots parlor at Plainridge Park in Plainville has the highest revenue of any similar gaming facility in the country, the parlor’s general […]
Posted inGambling
Audit: Plainridge Casino falls short in hiring goals
A NEW AUDIT says the Massachusetts Gaming Commission dropped the ball in its mandate to ensure that Plainridge Park Casino met its agreed-upon local hiring goals and that the state’s […]
Posted inGambling
Wynn wants to partner with locals
LAS VEGAS CASINO DEVELOPER Steve Wynn said on Wednesday that his company is courting “local personalities” to operate food and beverage operations at the $2.1 billion hotel/casino complex under construction […]
Posted inEnvironment
MA, CT, and RI to negotiate wind, solar deals
MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, AND RHODE ISLAND announced on Tuesday that they intend to negotiate seven power purchase contracts with wind and solar developers selected through an unusual three-state bidding process. The […]
Posted inGambling, State House News Service
Feds: Reconsider Mashpee Wampanoag ruling
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION on Wednesday sought reconsideration of a federal court ruling that would strip the Mashpee Wampanoag of its tribal land in southeastern Massachusetts, according […]
Posted inGambling
Curtatone making up with Wynn
SOMERVILLE MAYOR JOSEPH CURTATONE is making up with Wynn Resorts. The mayor, who delayed by several months the construction of the Wynn Resorts hotel and casino in Everett by challenging […]
Posted inGambling
Wynn project shifts into gear
WYNN RESORTS led everyone to believe it put construction of its $2.1 billion Everett casino and hotel on hold when Somerville challenged a key environmental permit, but the worksite on […]
Posted inGambling
An unlikely spot for a $2.1b hotel
ON ONE SIDE is a massive power plant. On the other is a commuter rail line and a group of big box stores. To the rear is an MBTA repair […]