Question of the Day: Legalized Gambling
What are your thoughts on legalized gambling in Massachusetts?
We'll be asking Easton Patch readers a different question every weekday. Questions could range from local decisions made by officials, to state issues, to national politics and entertainment. Whatever it is, we want to know what EASTON thinks!
Massachusetts lawmakers filed a gambling bill yesterday that would allow for three casinos and one separate slot parlor in the commonwealth, according to the Boston Herald and other media outlets.
In a statement, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray said “We support this bill and believe that it provides a strongly regulated and commercially desirable framework for establishing a gaming industry in Massachusetts. Expanded gaming will create thousands of construction and service jobs and support our ongoing efforts to create and retain jobs in the Commonwealth. Further, it will serve as a source of new revenue for Massachusetts and help our economy grow.”
With a simulcast betting site, Raynham Park, already in exsistence just across the town line on route 138, the new bill could have an effect on Easton.
What are your thoughts on legalized gambling in Massachusetts?
Janet Sroczynski
11:20 am on Thursday, August 25, 2011
It is shameful, that we are being asked to revisit this casino/gambling issue in Massachusetts. A state that is well known for Higher Education. But, since you asked the question here on Patch.com -let's glance at the topic. Google a search under "High Unemployment in Nevada" -and read: 1) http://www.LVRJ.com-Las Vegas Review Journal -an article by Jennifer Robison from 06/18/2010. It states in part, that Nevada lost 180,000 jobs, including 83,000 positions in Construction and 43.000 jobs in Leisure and Hospitality - (Think: Casino Industry & Gaming-the category it fits into); according to the Chairman in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I said well ok., that information is over a year old.....so, fast-forward to today...and we have: "Nevada's Unemployment rate in July 2011 rose to 12.9%, an increase of .5% from June 2011 rate. Source: 1) http://www.BigNews.biz. My thoughts, heartfelt as they are.....is Massachusetts, please do not be fooled, by fools-gold.
Janet Sroczynski
1:29 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
I'll play devil's advocate for all of you pro-casino supporters out there....1) What community has offered to host the Trash from these (4) proposed casinos, when landfils are full to capacity and being capped, on already strapped budgets; 2) What community(ies) have offered to supply fresh drinking water?....and sewage issues to deal with the volume of it. In Easton, we currently have good fresh drinking water, let's keep it that way. For those who want to seek additional reading/research, start here: 1) http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/tech216.html.....PwC-PricewaterhouseCoopers -Big 4 Accounting Firm: China Partner said China is now the world's largest Online Gaming Market....article updated: 06/24/20100that's right, Online Gaming....for more current input from PwC-PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP/Boston, see their website at: 1) http://www.pwc.com -key in under Industry Sector: Leisure/Entertainment/Hospitality/Casino/Gambling-and read. Clearly, I do not support Casino's for Massachusetts, nor for the school children in our area either. Just the social-ill's alone, that go with it..are not worth the longterm-costs associated with project-work of this nature.