Vegas casino companies look to Massachusetts

29 May 2009

By Howard Stutz

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –- A few Las Vegas-based casino companies are poking around Massachusetts as the commonwealth's government prepares to take another look at legalized gambling, the Boston Globe reported this morning.

Steve Wynn and Boyd Gaming Corp., have hired lobbyists and sent representatives to discuss the possibility of legalized gambling with policy makers.

While some developers want resort casinos legalized, owners of the tracks would like to see slot machine parlors at their establishments legalized.

Boyd Gaming has met with a dog track owner and a harness race course owner in the past several weeks, presumably about purchasing the course or forming a partnership.

Station Casinos is reportedly meeting with the dog track owner today and has met with another track owner recently.

Harrah's Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Loveman, who lives in Massachusetts, and Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Sheldon Adelson, who grew up in the Bay State, have expressed interest in the past in pursuing projects in Massachusetts.