POLL: Brodeur, House Approve Casino Bill

With a lack of unified opposition on Beacon Hill, the latest reincarnation of the casino bill easily passed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives last night, with Rep. Paul Brodeur, D-Melrose, voting for the bill.

Brodeur joined 122 other state representatives in voting for the bill, according to the Boston Globe; 32 House members voted against it.

The bill would permit three casinos in three regions of the state, and a single slot parlor with 1,250 machines.

In an interview with Melrose Patch last week, , while adding that he wanted to review how gambling revenues would be distributed via the bill.

"I think that there are some significant improvements to this version over what was in play, what the House basically passed last session," Brodeur had said, pointing specifically to competitive bidding of the slot parlor license and more significant resources devoted to problems from gambling, such as gambling addictions. "I’m still eyeballing a little bit some of the cultural issues, like what’s set aside for the Mass. Cultural Council. Overall, I think it’s a good bill."

Through the bill, all state revenue from the slot parlor would be transferred to a local aid fund, while a quarter of the revenue realized from the three casinos would be reserved for local aid.

The remaining casino revenue would be distributed to various funds and organizations. For example: 2 percent would go to the Massachusetts Cultural Council; 10 percent to the state's rainy day fund; and 10 percent to debt reduction.

The Senate expects to take up the measure later this month, according to the Globe.

Sen. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, who represents Melrose Wards 1-5, also .

Sen. Tom McGee, D-Lynn, who represents Melrose Wards 6 and 7, previously voted for the bill as a member of the Legislature's joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, according to the Boston Herald.