Governor Deval Patrick seems poised to announce a three casino plan for Massachusetts sometime today. This plan contemplates the state selling three licenses centered in three separate regions, and then establishing a separate tax rate for those casinos (30 percent?) that would generate hefty numbers for Massachusetts. The political jockeying has already started, with prospective locations touting themselves as great casino sites. The anti-casino forces have begun to mobilize as well. In todays Boston Globe.

This is a tragedy and a social injustice,” said Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which plans to join in opposition along with several other powerful groups, including the Massachusetts Council of Churches and the League of Women Voters. “What this state represents in historic and cultural terms will be forever changed with the glitter and ballyhoo of Vegas. This is not going to go by easily, believe me. This is about the soul of the Commonwealth.”

Locally Senator Sue Tucker can be expected to be a leading opponent of the casino plan. Speaker of the House Sal Dimasi has been opposed to casino gambling in the past, and Rep. Dan Bosley, on the House side, will be a major opponent. As far as what impact this type of proposal will have locally there are some critical questions that we do not know the answer to. The first is what impact would a major expansion of casino gaming have on lottery revenues, which are dedicated to local aid. My guess is that the presence of three casinos will have at least a constraining effect on lottery growth, which has slowed considerably even without Massachusetts casinos. If the effect is a drop then the political question, from a local perspective, is how do we make that up via this plan. A second question that may impact us locally will be the impact on gaming politics in New Hampshire. Many are convinced that if Massachusetts green lights casinos New Hampshire will follow shortly threafter. With Rockingham Park a potential site in New Hampshire I am keenly aware that Methuen may be impacted in ways that go beyond Massachusetts politics. This process will be an extraordinary one, with many different political players attempting to get to the table. Read the Globe story at this link.