Boston.com notes that House Speaker Sal DiMasi is circulating an analysis by state Rep. Dan Bosley about the economics of bringing casino gambling to Massachusetts.In it, Bosley -- a North Adams Democrat who chairs the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, which will be holding a hearing on Gov. Patrick's proposal to legalize gaming next week -- disputes the governor's claim that casinos will bring in $400 million in new state revenues.
The analysis concludes that, "Casino gambling is not long term, sustainable, economic development policy. The costs simply outweigh the benefits in both short and long term analysis." Some of the factors that Bosley says contribute to this conclusion are:
* The Governor’s revenue numbers are based on a static, non competitive appraisal of the gambling market in Massachusetts, when in fact, the market is overwhelmingly competitiveMaybe this is not a sound analysis, but I'd like to see it refuted with facts rather than made-up figures -- like "30,000 new construction jobs" -- before we rush headlong into this. Read the entire analysis here.
* The Governor did not consider the realities of state gambling markets through the United States
* The Governor’s proposal overstates the amount of gambling revenue that the Commonwealth can recapture from Connecticut
* A significant portion of the Governor’s projected revenues will be derived from money that is already spent in the state economy
* The casino license auction will not be as competitive or lucrative as the Governor imagines
* The loss of Lottery revenues due to the advent of casino gambling will be extensive
Update: It seems that Speaker DiMasi is having some success convincing House members that the governor's plan is not all it's cut out to be.
15 comments:
I picked up a copy of the East Boston Times-Free Press at the North End branch library this morning. One of the front page articles suggests locating a movie studio at Suffolk Downs. That certainly sounds a lot more attractive than a casino, doesn't it?
1'm aga1nts all cas1no gambl1ng -the state has already created m1ll1ons of compuls1ve gamblers w1th the1r state lotter1es- A cas1no plan at the horse trac w1ll be a major blow for the poor low 1ncome res1dents of Massachusetts who w1ll travel to east boston cas1noland v1a mbta and blow the1r salar1es- the best salut1on for the horse trac would be a needed soccer stad1um for the new england revolut1on soccer team- or a outdoor/ 1ndoor concert venue- or how about s1x flags-
Is using the "1" instead of an "i" your trademark or something or is it that the "i" letter on your computer is broke? Kind of unique but just wondering.
Millions of compulsive gamblers? I would be glad to read more about that...where did you get that figure?
Travel to East Boston to blow their salaries? By your analysis, they are already doing that if there are millions of compulsive gamblers - only difference is that they are spending those salaries in Connecticut now.
Gambling addiction is only solved by intervention programs, that we can't pay for now because of our budget woes.
So I ask, is it ok for us to ignore compulsive gamblers as long as they spend their salaries outside the state and make the Indiands and the state of Conn richer?
As for what you and Ron Newman's ideas are for what might go there...this is not public land that is going to be developed with our tax dollars but land owned by private property owners developed with their money. The ideas are going to come from them - not us.
How interesting that the Eastie Times is available at the North End library. I used to be able to pick up a copy on Wednesday at the Post Office. I haven't seen it there in weeks. Can anyone explain?
I have no idea why a stack of East Boston Times-Free Press newspapers was delivered to the North End library. But I was glad to see them, since another front page article was about the Seville Theater proposal.
A casino at Suffolk Downs would be an absolute slap in the face to all East Bostonians. This community is a blue collar working class and that's exactly what we need to have something built so that people can blow their salaries. What an injustice for all those people who gave their lives to make Eastie a better place to live. We must stop the casino's and All of you should call your elected officials and tell them so. If none of you do, then you don't care either
The slap in the face is suggesting because we are blue collar that we are all gambling addicts. At least with a resort style casino, there will be additional chances for our blue collar workers to even earn a paycheck - whether they gamble it or not is really up to them...but with lottery on every corner, Keno in every bar, a horsetrack with simulcast, and junkets from Central Square to Foxwoods and Mohegan, why would a casino make any difference?
A Cas1no such as Foxwoods
a place where vulnarable old lad1es who hop on buses day after day -for the long journey to explo1tat1on- w1th c1gerettes dangl1ng from the1r mouths wh1le throw1ng the1r l1fe sav1ngs 1nto a slot mach1ne- th1s 1s what to expect 1f a new cas1no were to be developed 1n East Boston- 1f 1t were to be developed have someth1ng classy such as mohegan sun-Foxwoods 1s dubbed the 1deal dest1nat1on for the wh1te trash-
To Casino Maybe, obviously you are a supporter and probably don't even live here in Eastie. That being said, you state that there is already keno at every corner so does that mean because there is thrash in the street what makes a difference if more is dumped here?
You make no sense, only because there is a lottery that means we should have a big casino? That's absolutely nuts.
Nuts? Not really.
As for your trash analogy, nice try but you will have to do better than that. Last time I checked, plenty of people compain about trash - nobody complains about the fact that we have twenty dollar scratch tickets or keno.
If you read my post a little bit closer, you would see that my point was not about whether a casino is a good thing or bad thing but a response to the ridiculous suggestion that just because people who are blue collar they are automatically degenerate gamblers who will blow their salaries.
If the concern is just that and you think we have to save these people from themselves because you think they all lack such self control and will thus blow their salaries at a casino the first day it opens, then my further point should be pretty clear as well. These same types of people you worry about can (and probably do) blow it all now on $20 scratch tickets, 10 spot keno, an afternoon of simulcast, and "tha numba".
You can't ingnore the fact that gamblers are gamblers and they are going to gamble - whether we have a casino or not won't change that equation.
1 l1ved here for over 40 years- My extended fam1ly members ran bus1nesses 1n East Boston and had a resturaunt dat1ng as far as the year 1909 1n the N End
- Whats a matta for you gotta no respect whatta you th1nca you do- 1ts a not so bad a shut up a you face
To Casino Maybe, so because we have drug addicts here in East Boston should we have drugs sold at every corner. After all they are adults who are we to try to help them? You argument is baseless and sad at the very least.
Yes, the fact is we are in a blue collar neighborhood and yes we should not put that evil apple in front of the good people.
Trust me when I say we have hundreds of residents ready to protest at any cost, so you can forget about having a casino here.
It must hurt your pocket somewhere I sense.
Remember people say NO to casino's!
P.S Just another thought! should we allow Massport to grow by your thinking you would because after all they(massport) is already here.
Do you see, you make no sense, think before you type.
My name is Casino Never
To All East Boston res1dents - d1d you now 1f you throw your TV out w1th your trash- the trash man w1ll grab the trash and leave the TV. 1f the TV
1s not removed after 7 days from trash day - you w1ll rece1ve a hefty f1ne for lo1ter1ng 1n the amount of drum roll please $1000.00- that's great- the c1ty should f1ne themselves- there 1s l1tter from last september on my street- d1sgust1ng-
I believe that televisions, like computer monitors, cannot be disposed of through the normal trash pick-up because they contain toxic substances that would leach into the groundwater if buried in a landfill. Residents are supposed to drop off TVs and other electronics at places and times listed on the city's web site, www.cityofboston.gov.
When are they go1ng to start that mult1m1ll1on dollar Jew1sh memor1al center next to the old bur1al ground @ wood 1sland for the h1story of the myst1c jews- supposedly they say 1t w1ll pump thousands of dollars 1nto the local economy- people from all ages w1ll v1s1t and learn about the h1story of the myst1c jews-
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