Lawmakers: Negotiate with tribes to allow gaming

Thursday, September 16, 2004  

"Whatever the arguments are against legalized gaming, the reality is that 30 states have Indian gaming, we already have gaming in the form of the state lottery, and there is clearly a demand among Massachusetts residents for casino entertainment.

In supporting the bids by the Nipmucs and the Wampanoags to establish a casino in Massachusetts, lawmakers can better negotiate revenue-sharing with the tribes. If either tribe secures the right to build a gaming venue on tribal land, we lose the leverage of higher possible revenues.

Despite the improving budget picture in Massachusetts state government, our critical budget needs in education, Medicaid, and local aid to cities and towns are rising faster than our ability to fund those needs. What principle are we standing on while we continue to lose revenue, jobs, and tourism dollars to other states and ignore an important means to fund critical programs?

We should sit down with these tribes and other interested parties to work out a long-range plan that would bring limited casino gaming to Massachusetts and reap the benefits of the revenues and jobs we are now just exporting to other states."

Get the Story:
George N. Peterson Jr. and Mark J. Carron: Massachusetts needs casinos (The Boston Globe 9/16)