More Community Leverage Sought as Casino Vote Looms

The state senate is scheduled to begin debate Monday on the expanded casino gaming bill that has already won house approval and has the support of Gov. Deval Patrick.  

In addition to the legislation itself,  which authorizes three casino licenses in various parts of the state, senators will have 186 amendments to consider when debate begins Monday. 

State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, has sponsored or co-sponsored several of those amendments, with the aim of providing protections for communities near those that may host a casino.  

With an active proposal to locate a casino at the junction of Route 16 and I-495 in Milford, Holliston residents and officials are among those concerned about the impacts of such a development. 

“The legislature has debated and voted on expanded gambling in Massachusetts for several years now, and this year it looks closer to becoming a reality than ever before,” Spilka said in a news release. "I have filed these amendments to make sure the needs of surrounding communities are better addressed and understood so we can have the best possible outcome for our towns, our residents, and the Commonwealth as a whole.”

As co-chairperson of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Spilka has already had a hand in crafting the current bill, which includes the requirement that funds be set aside to mitigate a host of possible impacts from casinos. 

One recent amendment would give towns that are substantially impacted by casinos the right to hold a direct vote on such proposals, a right the bill currently reserves only for host communities. 

Other amendments Spilka is supporting would:  

- Change the definition of "surrounding communities" in the legislation to include more cities and towns near casino sites

·  Increase surrounding community involvement in the long term mitigation process by giving neighboring communities a seat on the board that will help decide how mitigation funds are spent; 

- Require casino license applicants to pay for legal or other financial costs incurred by communities while negotiating the right to construct a casino; 

- Require the Gaming Commission to avoid concentrating casino licenses in any one part of the state. 

Town officials in Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway and other nearby communities have been discussing the legislation since it was revived this summer.

The proposal in Milford, put forth by developer David Nunes, includes a 300,000 square-foot casino complex with thousands of slot machines and about 100 table games, along with a hotel and multiple restaurants. A proposed second phase would add more gaming facilities.