Study: Massachusetts Losing Millions of Gambling Dollars

MASSACHUSETTS – As reported by the South Coast Standard Times: "A recent study funded by a major casino firm claims that South Coast communities lost millions of dollars in revenue when local gamblers took their money to casinos in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

"Casino gaming remains illegal in Massachusetts, but proponents say the study, funded by Harrah's Entertainment Inc., further proves that neighboring states siphon off dollars that could have been spent locally.

"'I think it's crazy,' said state Sen. Joan Menard, a Democrat from Somerset. 'We should be taking advantage of something that people want to do anyway.'

"She filed a bill last year that would have authorized three casinos, including one in Bristol County. The proposal never made it to a vote.

"…According to the Harrah's study, 35 percent of the population in the Providence-New Bedford market, or about 402,000 people, visited a casino in 2003.

"The typical casino gambler from SouthCoast averaged just over six trips a years, which translates into almost 2.5 million trips from the region…"