Editorial: Rolling the dice in Massachusetts

Monday, September 17, 2007  

"Governor Patrick knows slot machines and table games are not the stuff of human ideals that he talked about in his campaign. But he also hopes to prod the economy while generating badly needed revenue for state government. He has reached the sensible conclusion that casinos, if carefully planned, can help on both counts.

Patrick took months to make up his mind. How wisely he spent that time should be revealed today, when he makes recommendations for the oversight of the industry, distribution of revenue, and mitigation of social problems such as compulsive gambling.

On first inspection, at least, the governor's basic proposal appears sound: three strategically sited resort casinos licensed through a competitive process. The initial license fees could raise tens of millions of dollars or more in immediate revenue for the state and perhaps hundreds of millions annually.

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, which hopes to build a casino in Middleborough, could bid for a license along with commercial developers. But Patrick's plan doesn't endorse an exclusive compact with the tribe. That decision now seems prudent, given the lack of clear guidance under federal law on Indian gaming - and given recent turmoil within the tribe itself. (The tribe could seek to build a casino under a separate federal process, but that could be difficult in practice.)

Some of Patrick's top advisers did not agree that the economic development gains from three casinos will outweigh the negatives, even with the anticipated addition of roughly 20,000 new jobs. The costs and benefits of gambling depend heavily on which form it takes, where it occurs, and how casino operators are chosen. Having decided to cast his lot with casinos, it's up to Patrick to make sure the state strikes the best possible balance."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Patrick rolls the dice (The Boston Globe 9/17)