Massachusetts: The Perfect Location!

The perfect location for a Slot Barn is the Boston Harbor!

Steve Wynn had it right in 2010. Senator "NIMBY" Hart didn't think so.

It has ALL of the services, transportation, water, sewer and TOURISTS.


Thursday, July 15, 2010
Casino Developer Wynn Eyes Seaport
Waterfront gambling
Casino magnate Stephen Wynn sizes up Seaport, eyes Fan Pier

By Thomas Grillo Thursday, July 15, 2010


The Bay State casino game has shifted to South Boston’s waterfront as Las Vegas mogul Stephen Wynn eyes key sites for a gambling resort in one of the most prized development districts on the Eastern Seaboard.

Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts Ltd., has hired a local lobbyist and public relations firm and raised the idea of building a Bay State casino with analysts in April.

“Our next project will undoubtedly be in China, unless we get involved in Massachusetts,” the billionaire said in the conference call with analysts.

Meanwhile, a source told the Herald that a Wynn representative has approached Joseph Fallon, owner of Fan Pier on the city’s waterfront, about the possibility of locating a resort casino in the Seaport District overlooking Boston Harbor on a portion of his spectacular 12-acre site.

The Fallon Co. broke ground in 2007 on a $3 billion neighborhood proposal spanning nine city blocks. While the first 500,000-square-foot office building is slated to open later this year, and a temporary building houses upscale retailer Louis and a restaurant, the project has stalled due to lack of tenants and financing.

Since the 1970s, Wynn has created some of the world’s most famous casinos including Bellagio, The Mirage, Treasure Island at The Mirage and the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, as well as the Atlantic City Golden Nugget and Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss. In April, Wynn opened Encore at Wynn Macau, an expansion of its existing casino with a new 414-room luxury hotel with restaurants and retail in a region of China.

While Wynn declined to comment yesterday, he is among those lobbying the Legislature to approve a measure to authorize resort-style casinos.

Development Associates LLC, a Wynn subsidiary, has paid nearly $400,000 to Boston lobbyist ML Strategies to advance the company’s interest in a casino here. In addition, Wynn has hired Howell Communications, a Boston public relations firm run by political strategist Ray Howell, to promote a bid.

Former City Councilor Michael J. McCormack, who represented Donald Trump in 1993 when the New York real estate developer sought to build a casino on Long Island in the middle of Boston Harbor, said if there’s to be a casino in Boston it should be built where people want to go. “What’s better than a casino with phenomenal views of the Boston Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean?” he said. “I think it’s a fabulous location.”

Others agree. “The waterfront is a perfect location for a casino,” said Dean Stratouly, a Boston developer. “It’s close to the convention center, the airport and the downtown hotels. A casino at Seaport would bring more hotels and lots of entertainment venues.”

But Vivien Li, executive director of the Boston Harbor Association, said she’s not convinced there’s enough space for a casino and all the parking required for gamblers.

Concerns about a waterfront casino and its impact on the South Boston neighborhood have already prompted an ill-fated effort to quash such a development.

State Sen. Jack Hart, a South Boston Democrat, introduced an amendment to the Senate’s casino legislation that would prohibit a casino in South Boston, the Boston neighborhood that includes the Seaport District. The measure never came to a vote because it was ruled unconstitutional, according to a spokesman for Senate President Therese Murray.

“I’m not surprised that a developer would consider the waterfront for a casino given its location next to the convention center,” said Hart. “But I think I speak for the majority of the people of the neighborhood when I say that folks would rather see a casino at Suffolk Downs.”

If Wynn secures a Boston site and the Legislature authorizes casinos, it could set up a high-stakes battle against at least two other development proposals for an Eastern Massachusetts license.

Suffolk Downs has proposed a $600 million resort casino that would feature a hotel, 5,000 slot machines, 200 table games, restaurants and shops at the 75-year-old racetrack. In Milford, David Nunes and Warner Gaming have proposed the Crossroads resort off Interstate 495. The 26-acre complex would feature a 267,000-square-foot casino, a 250-room hotel and amenities such as retail, bars and restaurants.

A law allowing casinos in Massachusetts is stuck in committee on Beacon Hill as lawmakers try to hammer out a compromise between House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, who also supports slot machines at racetracks, and Gov. Patrick, who doesn’t. Success for the gambling legislation would likely open a floodgate of bidders for lucrative Massachusetts casino licenses.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1268038

Beginning of the end for New Jersey

New Jersey voters opposed statewide Gambling and only supported a re-tread version that was limited to Atlantic City - on the pretext of 're-vitalizing' a poverty-stricken, falling down city.

Much like the arguments offered on Beacon Hill, it's okay if it's "over there some place" - Middleboro, Fall River, that other un-named western Massachusetts town. Let them deal with the increased crime, increased traffic, drunks on the road from 24/7 free alcohol. Just as long as it's 'not in my community.'

I listened, at a loss for words (a rare occurrence) as Senator "NIMBY" Hart wanted to exempt his community from the devastation caused by Slot Barns, that he proudly supported elsewhere.

And here we are, all these years later, with New Jersey addicted to Gambling Revenues and decades of wrong fiscal policies, giving Casinos a bailout and reducing regulations.

The Gambling Vultures, where ever they go, use whatever buzzwords the public willingly accepts to support their revenue extracting enterprise - public schools, care for the elderly, and so it goes.

This looks like the beginning of the end for New Jersey.


Senate bill would provide tax break for casinos

TRENTON — Atlantic City casinos will receive a tax break worth up to $25 million a year — at the expense of the PAAD and other programs — under a bill scheduled for a vote in the state Senate Monday, two analysts said.

The tax break, the analysts said, will reduce revenue that otherwise goes to pay for prescription drugs for low-income seniors — the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled program — and other social services, such as transportation for the elderly and disabled.

Klatzkin said the tax break would make Atlantic City casinos more competitive with casinos in nearby states that do not tax promotional items and thus are more able to entice customers to come.

"I'm sure the state has no financial problems at all, right?" Wortman said. "Why are they acquiescing to the casinos to eliminate that? I thought the Democrats and Republicans in the Statehouse were supposed to look out for the citizens, not the casinos."

Carl Zeitz, a former member of the Casino Control Commission, said that Pennsylvania taxes its casinos, in total, at more than half of their revenue, while New Jersey charges the 8 percent.

"It really comes down to one thing — convenience gambling," Zeitz said...

Mayor Mumbles, Senator NIMBY and the Vultures

Well, it's sure been an exciting week with the Mayor of Boston throwing a long overdo temper tantrum over a BIG hole in the ground.

Not to be outdone, the aged self-indulgent Steve Wynn, who has everything that money can nip and tuck bought a Plaza Hotel Penthouse for $23 Million and pronounced the Seaport, an ideal location for one of his gaudy edifices, provoking the knee-jerk NIMBYs outrage.

It's not unexpected that some of the loudest Gambling Stentors have no objection as long as it's


OVER THERE -- just not near MY home!


There was surely enough testimony to that effect on the Senate Floor.

While the media suddenly tallied the lobbying expenditures in the Beacon Hill Fire Sale -- Firms up ante on lobbying for casinos , $1.8M spent on Mass. casino lobbying, The Republican repeats the same AP story, as did others.

There was finally a public announcement that the Vultures added Holyoke to the mix, along with Charlton, but there remain others yet to step forward.

All of which is to say we've simply lost sight of what's reasonable in the feeding frenzy and we need to discuss more important issues like the COSTS.

Senator "NIMBY" Hart

Frankly, who wants a casino in their backyard?

No one!

In fact, were a statewide referendum on the November ballot, it would fail miserably because more people OPPOSE gambling, casinos, racinos and slot parlors in their backyards.

To avoid that threat, one Casino Cheerleading Senator proposed to exempt his district, his neighborhood.

Fair is fair, Senator.

All communities should be equally at risk when you vote on this grossly flawed bill.

CLERK 100

Prohibiting Operation of a Resort Style Casino or Gaming Facility
In the South Boston Waterfront / Seaport District Area

Mr. Hart moves to amend the bill (Senate, No. 2495), in Section 17(a), by inserting at the end of line 1177, “Notwithstanding the above, a gaming license shall not issue to operate, build or construct a resort style casino or any type of gaming facility in the South Boston Waterfront / Seaport District, City of Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.