Sen. Fargo Adamantly Opposes Casinos

Vociferously anti-casinos, state Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln) said she and other senators did their research into gambling in other states and found not one shred of good news.

The bill in Massachusetts to create three casinos and slot parlors passed both houses of the state legislature and was sent to Gov. Deval Patrick for his signature.

Patrick has 10 days to act on the bill, and as of Tuesday, he had suggested that before signing it, he wanted to eliminate the slot parlors and approve the bill, as amended, for three casinos.

Fargo said even with no slot parlors allowed, she opposed gaming. But she said the legislature has adjourned for the rest of the year, and is not likely to return.

Fargo said Patrick likely would not send it back for another vote because the legislature would have to be called back into session, something that has not happened in her approximately 14-year tenure on Beacon Hill.

"It's been quite an episode," said Fargo from her Lincoln home.

She said the senate debated the bill until midnight on Saturday before voting to approve it and send it to the governor.

"It's never happened before like that," she said. The vote was 25 in favor; 15 opposed, including her. She said removing slots wouldn't have changed her mind.

"The numbers about job creation are grossly inflated," she said, adding that she and Sen. Susan Tucker and others dug into the matter in other states.

"States that have casinos are in worse shape than we are," she said. "No one has done a cost benefit analysis of what it costs."

She said it would take "millions" just to create the regulatory authority to oversee gambling. And the bill does not apply to Native Americans that may want to build a casino. She said New Hampshire wants to build two on its southern border.

"We have learned from other states," said Fargo. "It is a corrupt industry. Inevitably what happens is that the casinos complain about the harsh regulatory climate and the state "caves in" and does not maintain strict control. She said casinos "cannibalize" small businesses like restaurants and mom and pop shops.

"I've never done a bill with language against money laundering in it," said Fargo. "It is run by organized crime, and lots of the money goes overseas to Indonesia. This is a house of cards, filled with fake promises."

Fargo said she polled her district, the third Middlesex, that includes Waltham, Bedford, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Lincoln, precincts in Lexington and Sudbury, and Weston. She found that two-thirds of her constituents are anti-casino.

She said she was able to add an anti-smoking ban, but that was reasonably easy because it is a state law.

"I wasn't able to get the free liquor banned," said Fargo. "Casinos are addiction centers."

She said Massachusetts has "other areas in which to create jobs," like health care and high tech.

"I went against the leadership on this," said Fargo. "I can say I learned a lot."