Patrick Casino Bill Worries Allies As Well As Foes
The two sides in the Massachusetts debate on casinos have muddied the water with confusing arguments over a bill that embraces and coldly rejects gambling at the same time. Now things promise to get even more mixed up as anti-casino forces have brought in a hired gunslinger.
Governor Patrick's casino proposal is itself a work of contradiction. Although the bill would establish licenses for three land casinos, many are ignoring the provision that make online gambling illegal, with serious jail time possible for convicted players. Thus, the bill becomes not about allowing individuals their proper freedom and self-determination, as any good gambling law is, but about control of revenues and which special interest can exclusively drain the blood of the golden goose.
Recently, the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and the Massachusetts League of Women Voters joined with other gambling opponents to form Casino Free Mass. Now, this organization has hired Dennis Bailey, a leading strategist in anti-casino lobbying and campaigning across the country, to help defeat Patrick's bill.
Bailey, who is given credit for defeating legislation proposing casinos in Maine, thinks that the close race in Massachusetts will tilt in the favor of his group as the public becomes fully informed. Even though pro-casino voters have an edge in most polls, Bailey says the tendency in elections is for wavering voters to vote against, if there is sufficient public debate and education.
However, Bailey has not had such well-organized and powerful opponents as he does this time. The state's unions have come out strong in favor of casinos, and between them, the gambling industry, and the governor's political machine, Bailey's plan of online and direct mail attacks against the casinos seems fragile indeed.
The real problem in Massachusetts, ignored by both sides, is the clause pushing jail time for online players. Most areas have been content to attack the online casinos and their operators, leaving players to deal with the nuisance of trying to transfer funds. The concept of felony online gambling is a frightening one, and the irony of Massachusetts okaying casino gambling while quietly persecuting online play is irrefutable.
For once, this is a casino bill that needs to be defeated. If the law is voted down, Indian casinos presently opposed by Patrick will inevitably open, and online play won't put anyone behind bars. Let Patrick propose a truly open gambling bill; until then gamblers should join Patrick's opponents and vote against his myopic bill.
