"State lawmakers are set to debate yet another casino bill this week, including whether or not the Mashpee Wampanoag ought to be given special consideration.

Granted, the Mashpee tribe shot itself in the foot over the whole Middleboro fiasco. But, ultimately, that's a red herring.

Still, we'll hear many variations of the two basic opposition arguments — the moral case against casinos and the economic "cost-benefit" argument.

While it may be a sad commentary on the soul of America, the moral argument against casinos is the weaker one, mostly because the crusade against gambling is almost completely undermined by the hypocrisy of the most vocal prohibitionists.

When someone is up in arms about the "immorality" of gambling but silent about state lotteries, in particular, and our Wall Street casino economy, in general, their righteous stand is overshadowed by the glaringly obvious selective outrage."

Get the Story:
Sean Gonsalves: Chamber shows hypocrisy over tribe casino plan (The Cape Cod Times 9/13)

Also Today:
New talk of casinos leaves sour taste in town (The Boston Globe 9/11)
Cape seeks payout from casino profits (The Cape Cod Times 9/10)
Middleborough Lawsuit Could Delay Mashpee Tribe Casino Hopes (The Brockton Enterprise 9/9)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Gaming bill gives free pass for Massachusetts tribes (9/8)
Bill offers 'small window' for a tribal casino in Massachusetts (9/7)
Opinion: Tribal casino in Massachusetts unlikely without land fix (9/6)
Editorial: Tribal interests put ahead of others in Massachusetts (8/29)
Gaming interests oppose tribal provision in Massachusetts bill (8/26)
Massachusetts gaming bill provides for just one tribal compact (8/25)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe still looking to find land for a casino (8/24)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe praises Massachusetts gaming bill (8/23)