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What are the odds of a casino at Suffolk Downs?

By adamg on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 7:41am

House overwhelmingly passes casino bill.

Neighborhoods: 
East Boston
Topics: 
Politics
Free tagging: 
gambling
Suffolk Downs


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Comments

By Mateo on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 9:03am.

I'm beginning to wonder if it is more likely that Suffolk Downs will get a slot barn instead. The idea of getting quick,easy income to support the track will probably be too hard to resist and East Boston will get all the addiction with none of the amenities promised in resort casinos. The politicians like to point to all that these resorts will offer, but they still kept a provision for one slot parlor with no explanation, other than to appease DeLeo.

I wonder what the local colleges think of having a casino next to a T station. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter since only the ward containing the casino gets to vote on whether to have it or not.

Hopefully these casinos will get sited in more rural areas where they can provide an economic boost while doing the least damage in increasing crime, traffic, and addiction.

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By Stevil on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 10:14am.

Maybe it's not "innovative" enough - but personally I'd rather see the casino on the waterfront - the best location would have been where the Moakley is - but that's umm... taken. Option 2 might be out on the Black Falcon pier so we can rob all the tourists from the cruise ships before they get downtown and waste all their money on Freedom Trail shotglasses.

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By O-FISH-L on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 10:31am.

+1 Stevil. I'd also like to see a casino on the waterfront or at least somewhere downtown and the MCCA wants a government subsidized hotel. If a major Vegas style hotel/casino developer could obtain the necessary permits, they could build one near the convention center without the need for huge government subsidies. The infratsructure is mostly in place down there. A win Wynn win. A hotel/casino would also make the white elephant convention center somewhat more appealling to most convention groups so it may help with bookings. If Suffolk Downs is just slots and all of the real casinos are in rural areas, the CT casinos will remain attractive to those bettors in eastern and southern MA, defeating the spirit of the legislation.

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By Kaz on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 10:37am.

I believe most of the likely scenarios being discussed involved one of the resort casinos going into Fall River (GREAT, like that place isn't depressed enough these days). It would be placed there specifically to keep the South Shore and eastern MA gamblers in-state instead of going to CT or the RI slots. So, don't think they don't have their eye on carving into the CT behemoths with one of the three resort casinos.

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By Brian Riccio on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 10:50am.

about the fact that they probably greased half the State House trying to keep casinos out our fair state? Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time Native Americans got screwed by the government.

As far as Suffolk Downs is concerned, word I've been hearing for years is that when Fenway can't be retrofitted anymore, the new baseball stadium might go up there, which makes way more sense.

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By HenryAlan on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 11:34am.

See: Fenway Rennovations

So I don't think that's a viable solution for Suffolk Downs.

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By anon² on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 1:09pm.

I think there's a better chance we'd see a new Fenway in Southie's commercial zone, rather then all the way at Suffolk Downs. Unless some serious shit goes down, I don't see the Sox leaving Boston for an area that is marginally harder to get to.

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By anon² on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 1:06pm.

Time to put some border tolls up on 93/91/95 I say.

Lots of NH'ers work in MA and make the commute, plus now they'll be coming here. Plus MA looses lots of border town tax revenue to NH purchases.

Last time NH screamed like children not to do it, then proceeded to raise their tolls to $2.00.

Time to close their free lunch.

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By Kaz on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 2:15pm.

The odds I'm giving are 2-for-5...why? You gettin' better odds somewhere else in town? Have I gotta send Paulie to crack some walnuts?!

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By anon on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 5:45pm.

I don't see how they put it anywhere else. The infrastructure is there and it would feed off the convention and tourist business. A lot of places won't want it near them. And isn't it in DeLeo's district (correct me if I am wrong)? The slot parlor ends up in Plainridge to compete with RI. I don't know where the other two casinos end up.

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