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Massachusetts Governor's Proposal Criticized27 February 2003BOSTON, Massachusetts – As reported by the Associated Press: "Gov. Mitt Romney has a simple proposition for casinos and racetracks in neighboring states: Give Massachusetts annual payments of $75 million or the Bay State will cut into your profits by expanding its own gambling opportunities. "Massachusetts could raise at least $75 million a year by allowing video gambling machines at the state's four racetracks, the governor said Wednesday in announcing his 2004 budget plan. "…`If they refuse to provide at least $75 million to us, and there's some logic for saying yes and some for saying no, then we will engage in video lottery terminals of our own in Massachusetts,' he said. "The proposal is a scaled down version of an earlier proposal for a $200 million payment from casinos in neighboring states. "But some New England gambling operators called that plan a form of extortion two weeks ago. "…Dan Bucci, chief executive at Lincoln Park in Rhode Island, which has video gambling machines, rejected the previous proposal as `a ransom payment.' "…It is estimated that Massachusetts residents spend as much as $250 million each year at casinos in Connecticut and at racetracks in Rhode Island and New Hampshire…" |