Tagged: casinos

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — The state gambling commission is hearing from advocates and opponents of extending an Indian tribe's exclusive right to develop a casino in southeastern Massachusetts.

The commission met Thursday at Bristol Community College in Fall River as it considers opening the region to commercial bidders.

Casino gambling and New York’s new gun law, the SAFE Act, have emerged as two issues in Albany sparking a good deal of debate this session. Republican State Senator Kathy Marchione, of Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties, is leading an effort to repeal the gun law passed earlier this year in New York, and the first year lawmaker is also backing a measure that would require the locations of casinos to be known before lawmakers approve a constitutional amendment to allow them on non-Indian land.

BOSTON (AP) — The gambling industry spent $2.3 million dollars lobbying Beacon Hill lawmakers in 2012, a drop from the $3.1 million spent by the industry in Massachusetts in 2011.

A review of lobbying records by The Associated Press found that despite the decline, companies hoping to land one of the state's coveted casino license still poured hundreds of thousands into lobbying.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Springfield's mayor has decided to open host community negotiations with each of the two companies hoping to develop casinos in the western Massachusetts city.

Mayor Domenic Sarno made the announcement on Monday after an internal review by the city of both casino proposals, one by MGM Resorts International and the other by Penn National Gaming.

The city could have chosen to negotiate with just one developer. The plan to begin negotiations with both companies does not guarantee that agreements will be struck with one or both.