Legalized gambling: If this were happening in my state, I'd be up in arms.

[cali]

Patrick to offer 3-casino plan
By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | September 16, 2007

Governor Deval Patrick plans to propose as early as tomorrow that the state sell licenses for three full-scale resort casinos in Massachusetts, citing their potential to spur economic growth, create jobs, and generate new government revenue, according to State House officials who have been briefed on his plan.

Patrick will recommend that the casinos be licensed in three regions: Southeastern Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, and an area that includes Boston and points north, the officials said. His announcement will mark the culmination of months of study and the end of a long stretch of public silence on the subject of legalized gaming.

All three licenses would be put up for competitive bid, in a process that is expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in immediate and direct state revenue, the officials said.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe would have to outbid other competitors if it wishes to quickly proceed with its plans for a resort-style casino in Middleborough, the officials said. If the tribe decides against seeking a state license or fails to receive one in the bidding process, it could still proceed with a longer, more arduous federal approval process that could result in a fourth Massachusetts casino.

<snip>
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/09/16/patrick_to_offer_3_casino_plan/

I don't know an uglier or more bizarre site than turning a bend on a semi-rural road only to see Foxboro looming there. The Berkshires of Western MA are lovely. Just blech to a casino there. How do those of you from MA feel about this? And if you're not from MA, how do you feel about Casinos in your state?

[soothsayer]

1. gawd, I wish puritanical virginia would get some!

[Snarkturian Clone]

2. here in philly, 2 casinos are being built.

One is in hipster-town and the other is in NIMBY-town. Needless to say, they are facing much opposition. I was against them both at first but I studied the issue a bit and now I endorse 1 being built (the one in hipster town) but not the other(the NIMBY town one will be built in an already high-traffic area).

[RebelOne]

3. I'd love to see a casino in my state.

But I'm in Georgia, so I think that there is little chance of that.

[cali]

5. Why?

I'd fight like hell to keep casinos out of Vermont.

[RebelOne]

10. Because I like to gamble. That's why.

[H2O Man]

4. In NYS

the forces that were promoting gambling casino culture used a faction the Haudenosaunee to get it through. The state and federal government went back and forth on if they should recognize the traditional leadership of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy, or a splinter group. The splinter group won, and the Confederacy and residents of the state lost.

[Uben]

6. those who gamble, gamble

I live in Texas. Currently, we have the lottery and a few Indian casinos. If people want to gamble, they will, despite having to do it legally. If we are going to have a lottery and Indian casinos, I see no use in losing billions of dollars annually to out of state casinos. There is a casino about 15 miles from my house, in Oklahoma, right now. I have been there three times in as many years. The place is packed every weekend by folks from the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex. I would like to see those dollars and jobs stay in Texas. The casino, though just across the border in Ok, has provided hundreds of jobs to our community, and spurred growth. If I had my way, there would be no legalized gambling in the state, but we have crossed that Rubicon already.

With the current fiscal crisis in Texas, we need more revenue to avoid higher taxes, and legalized gambling would bring in dollars that are currently going to our neighboring states of New Mexico, Okla, and Louisiana. It would probably be devastating to those casinos, as losing the Texas dollars would force some to close..

With online gambling a click away, why not?

If you do not currently have any legalized gambling, I would feel the same as you. I was vehemently against the lottery in 1992.
Our governor had the audacity to propose selling the lottery here to a private interest, but he would sell his mother if he could get enough for it.

[cali]

7. We do have the lottery, and I oppose it, but

large scale casinos in a small rural state are a recipe for disaster. That's the major reason I oppose any further expansion of gambling.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

8. I also oppose the lottery and casinos

If people want to make gambling transactions on their own, they should have the freedom to do so.

However, lotteries are a tax on the ignorant, who are often times poor. It's just insane, imo.

[tyedyeto]

11. And what disaster is it a recipe for? n/t

[cali]

13. Do you know Vermont? If so, I'm sure you're aware that

its essense is its small scale and rural nature. Hell, we don't even allow billboards anywhere in the state. We don't have a city with a population over the size of a smallish town. We're trying desperately to preserve our landscape of villages and farms, town squares and lakeshore that is not horribly built up. Casinos do not make for a good fit here.

[ShaneGR]

9. I support limited casino development in Florida and especially in Ohio

The fact is, Casino Tourism generates millions of monthly tax dollars to the States. This translates into more funding for schools, social programs, road, infrastructure, etc etc. Take Ohio for example, there was an article stating that last year alone over one million Ohioans traveled to Michigan, Las Vegas, and New Jersey to gamble last year. Why should a state pass up that kind of tax revenue?

[melm00se]

12. if I have to choose...

I'd prefer a casino vs a state run lottery...

if I were King, I'd've kept casinos in Vegas