Creem Warns of "Infiltration" of Gambling in Massachusetts

According to Sen. Cynthia Creem, the casino bill that passed the state senate last week would be a drain on Massachusetts' struggling communities while failing to deliver the sorely needed revenue supporters are promising.

Creem, D-Newton, was one of 15 senators who sought to block a bill that would allow for the operation of three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts. The senate bill won 35 votes in support and will now head to a conference committee to be reconciled with a house version that allows for two casinos and the addition of 750 slot machines at the state's four racetracks.

The gaming industry has argued that building three casinos would create 10,000 construction jobs and 15,000 permanent jobs, while bringing in $285 million to $355 million a year in taxes and fees for the state.

But Creem argued that the revenue potential of the projects has been exaggerated and noted that the cash-strapped state wouldn't see the revenue for years. She said casinos would fuel gambling addiction in Massachusetts while hurting small business in the parts of the state where they're built.

"Everybody understands it's addictive, it's a vise, and it just seems to me putting all that effort into that kind of development is not something I support," she said. "Once we start with these casinos, it's going to be years before we have them up and running, and we need revenue now."

Creem said she was also disappointed that her own amendment, which would have banned the broadcast of out-of-state dog race at Massachusetts racetracks, was not in the version of the bill that passed the senate. Voters approved a ban on greyhound racing in Massachusetts in 2008.