On Monday, the Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments on whether it should order the state to allow a referendum this fall to repeal casino gambling.
Attorney General Martha Coakley declined to permit the question on the ballot, saying it would be an illegal "taking" of private property - in this case, the rights casino operators would gain if awarded contracts to run casinos - and would be unfair to the four communities that would otherwise stand to benefit from casinos or a slots parlor.
Anti-casino forces say there's no taking and that, in any case, gambling is a matter of public concern and that the state can't just give away its right to protect "the public welfare" like that. They note the SJC had earlier rejected arguments from the operator of a dog track that a referendum banning dog racing was an illegal taking.
Docket and briefs in the case.
On Thursday, the state gaming commission could rule on whether Boston is a "host community" when it comes to the two casinos proposed for its borders - only one of which will go forward, if at all. The distinction matters because host communities can hold referendums on the casinos - as East Boston did before Suffolk Downs moved the physical location of its casino from partly in East Boston to entirely in Revere - and bargain for higher benefits from casino operators.
The commission had been set to vote on the issue today, but the Herald reports decided to give Mayor Walsh a week to work something out with Suffolk Downs and Steve Wynn.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Brief in favor of the referendum | 2.52 MB |
| Brief against the referendum | 1.54 MB |
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Comments
Gotta protect the new $30
By Ishmael Jones
Thu, 05/01/2014 - 1:37pm
Gotta protect the new $30 scratch tickets.
I don't like casinos, not in favor of them. It seems hypocritical though,to think that casinos would affect the public welfare, but scratch tickets or Keno don't.
There are at least hundreds
By anon
Thu, 05/01/2014 - 2:00pm
There are at least hundreds of locations where scratch tickets are sold, distributing the problems over all of them. There are 2, maybe 3 casinos allowed to operate in MA under the casino law, concentrating the problems (traffic, crime etc.) in a few places.
Hey Mr. Winn
By bulgingbuick
Thu, 05/01/2014 - 2:07pm
Is that a bulge in your pocket or is Crosby visiting?
Hold on the award
By BostonDog
Thu, 05/01/2014 - 5:20pm
Seeing as how no one has been awarded a license yet the obvious thing to do is hold off on awarding one until after the referendum. They can still build the big resorts if they want -- if you take what they say at face value then people will want to visit Revere or Everett even without the gambling.
Revere...
By Chris Rich
Thu, 05/01/2014 - 7:59pm
It's the new Cancun!!!
or "Who needs Aruba when you got Everett!"
Yup
By Wiffleball
Thu, 05/01/2014 - 8:55pm
Because that industrial wasteland around the racetrack could be a "world class" "destination." World class, I tell you. World. Fucking. Class.
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