Massachusetts go for Casinos

Massachusetts have ended more than a year of negotiating over proposed gambling legislation by agreeing to open three casinos and a slots parlor.

Even before the plan is voted on by rank-and-file lawmakers in Massachusetts, it is causing anxiety for adjoining states.

Many state officials in Connecticut and Rhode Island fear the opening of four gambling venues in Massachusetts will drive business away from their own casinos.

With two major casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, “face the biggest risk,” since many of their customers make the commute from Massachusetts to gamble.

Obviously this is going to upset the states next door whom may lose taxes on lost customers.

States have spent much of the last decade competing with one another for gambling dollars, and that, is part of the reason why new casinos can cause such consternation in states that already have them. Rather than create new business, they simply represent another slice of the same pie, particularly during an economic downturn.

However business is business and if Massachusetts can get a piece of the action then all is fair in love, war and business.