Mass. residents spend nearly $1b on casinos

BOSTON, Massachusetts -- As reported by The Boston Globe: "Despite cutting personal spending, Massachusetts residents spent more than $920 million last year at Connecticut casinos and slot machine parlors in Rhode Island and Maine, according to a study to be released today by UMass-Dartmouth.

"While some opponents of casino gambling in Massachusetts have criticized past reports by the Center for Policy Analysis, director Clyde Barrow, who holds a PhD in political science, said Bay Staters have continued gambling through recent economic downturns. The study is based on the number of Massachusetts license plates counted at casinos and slot parlors over a five-day period.

"'Even though Massachusetts residents have reduced their spending at the region's casinos over the last two years, spending by Massachusetts residents is still sustaining the region's gaming industry, especially in Connecticut and Rhode Island,' said Barrow in a statement.

"Last March, the state Legislature defeated a proposal by Governor Deval Patrick to license three casinos in Massachusetts.

"Earlier this month, State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill said licensing three slot parlors in the state could help Massachusetts deal with its budget woes by bringing the state between $2 billion to $3.3 billion in initial licensing fees, and he estimated the state could receive up to $244 million annually by collecting a 27 percent tax..."