Casino Bill Progresses to Senate

A bill that would bring three resort casinos and a slots parlor to Massachusetts moves to the Senate after it was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives, where efforts by a local lawmaker to bolster protections for communities surrounding casinos fell short. 

The house voted 123 to 32 in favor of the bill late Wednesday after several hours of debate. The bill authorizes three casino licenses in three different regions. A developer has proposed a casino for a parcel of land adjacent to I-495 in Milford, just a short distance from the Holliston border. 

With that prospect in mind, Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, who voted against the bill, also filed four amendments designed to provide communities near those hosting a casino with additional protection against casino impacts. Her amendments would have broadened the definition of surrounding communities to include any city or town that had residentially zoned land within two miles of a casino.  

Another would have given residents in those communities the right to vote on proposed casinos--something residents of host communities are given the ability to do under the bill as currently constituted. 

"I have long had concerns about the wisdom of expanded gambling in Massachusetts and its net result for the residents of the Commonwealth and I know these concerns are shared by my constituents." Dykema said in a news release. "During the debate, I did everything within my power to ensure that towns potentially impacted by casinos, including those that I represent, would have a true seat at the table when it comes to siting these facilities."

The bill includes provisions for communities near casinos to have access to funds to mitigate impacts caused by the developments.