Horse racing is dead, attendance declining and tracks around the country have closed.
In Massachusetts, legislators accepted the taxpayer subsidies promoted elsewhere to preserve the racing industry.
Michael Pollock [Spectrum Gaming Group] explained that even with increased 'purses' [which is what the slots revenue subsidizes], attendance doesn't increase and the tracks maintain horse racing as required by law. [That's before we have a conversation about the horses sent to Canadian or Mexican slaughterhouses.]
The Massachusetts Gam[bl]ing Commission heard loud and clear the message that a Slot Barn will suck revenue from a Destination Resort Slot Barn and the job creation numbers are simply not there.
Prediction: Both Massachusetts tracks will be closed within 5 years, with or without slots revenue.
Public forum addresses casinos & the economy
Mass. Gaming Commission hosted the public forum
Updated: Thursday, 14 Jun 2012, 7:55 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 14 Jun 2012, 4:20 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 14 Jun 2012, 4:20 PM EDT
WORCESTER, Mass. (WWLP) - After the Governor signed the law legalizing expanded gambling last year a lot of people have wondered how casinos will impact our state.
The economy has always been one of the top concerns and a public forum Thursday addressed just that.
Casinos are coming to Massachusetts and will impact all residents when they get here.
To prepare, the Casino Gaming Commission hosted a public forum all about casinos and how they impact the economy.
"We have learned that there is a market, no question about it, that geographically we're located in the perfect proximity for that to occur," said Paula Meara, Chair of the Springfield casino site committee.
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Steve Crosby said it's all about getting prepared to negotiate with gaming operators.
"If we don't know everything that they know, we won't be able to negotiate a good deal," Crosby said.
Meetings like this are all in an attempt to properly implement our new state law that allows for up to 3 casinos and one slots parlor.
It's the slots parlor Crosby says is a concern.
"We heard more sort of articulated concerns about will the slots parlor compete with the casino, will they generate enough jobs to be really worth the trouble, that kind of thing," Crosby added.
They also talked about population growth and how casinos have impacted other host states.
Wilbraham's Daniel Cochran listened in on the meeting hoping it might change his negative view of casinos.
"I've been researching it a little bit and there's nothing different, I'm just not sold on it. I'm not saying I'm not for economic development, I think economic development is a great thing," Cochran said.
There are other forums planned later in this month.
On Monday June 18th from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. the Commission will join the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to increase awareness of issues related to community mitigation. That will be at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, in the Grand North Ballroom, in Framingham, MA.
On Monday June 25th from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. the Commission will host an educational forum to address issues related to problem gambling. That will be at North Shore Community College, MBTA Building, Room T102, at 300 Broad Street in Lynn, MA.
The economy has always been one of the top concerns and a public forum Thursday addressed just that.
Casinos are coming to Massachusetts and will impact all residents when they get here.
To prepare, the Casino Gaming Commission hosted a public forum all about casinos and how they impact the economy.
"We have learned that there is a market, no question about it, that geographically we're located in the perfect proximity for that to occur," said Paula Meara, Chair of the Springfield casino site committee.
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Steve Crosby said it's all about getting prepared to negotiate with gaming operators.
"If we don't know everything that they know, we won't be able to negotiate a good deal," Crosby said.
Meetings like this are all in an attempt to properly implement our new state law that allows for up to 3 casinos and one slots parlor.
It's the slots parlor Crosby says is a concern.
"We heard more sort of articulated concerns about will the slots parlor compete with the casino, will they generate enough jobs to be really worth the trouble, that kind of thing," Crosby added.
They also talked about population growth and how casinos have impacted other host states.
Wilbraham's Daniel Cochran listened in on the meeting hoping it might change his negative view of casinos.
"I've been researching it a little bit and there's nothing different, I'm just not sold on it. I'm not saying I'm not for economic development, I think economic development is a great thing," Cochran said.
There are other forums planned later in this month.
On Monday June 18th from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. the Commission will join the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to increase awareness of issues related to community mitigation. That will be at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center, in the Grand North Ballroom, in Framingham, MA.
On Monday June 25th from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. the Commission will host an educational forum to address issues related to problem gambling. That will be at North Shore Community College, MBTA Building, Room T102, at 300 Broad Street in Lynn, MA.
http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/Casinos-and-the-Economy-in-Worcester
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