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BOSTON, Mass. – State Rep. Matt Beaton filed legislation last week seeking to provide certain taxpayer protections and hold elected officials to a high standard of transparency relating to casino gaming.
"With the debate over expanded gaming behind us, it is time to move forward and make sure that we enact certain common sense solutions to guarantee the people of Massachusetts that expanded gaming in the Commonwealth will always be a winning proposition," Beaton (R-Shrewsbury) said.
"An Act Relative to Certain Taxpayer Protections Regarding Casino Gaming" contains three provisions which will strengthen the existing casino gaming laws and better protect taxpayer money from any unforeseen difficulties that the emerging casino gaming industry may potentially face here in the Commonwealth:
1. Any casino that experiences financial hardship of any kind will not be eligible for assistance that uses taxpayer money.
2. Casinos would not be allowed to renegotiate a lower percentage of revenue that the state collects from them.
3. The cooling off period for elected officials to work in the industry will be 5 years instead of the current 1 year time frame.
"With neighboring states like Rhode Island and Connecticut facing their own problems with regard to their casino gaming industry, it's vital that as Massachusetts begins to expand its gaming industry, it establishes a firm set of rules and not allow a dime of public money to be spent on bailing out Massachusetts casino investors who made a bad gamble," Beaton said.
The bill has bi-partisan support in the legislature and has the backing of members who voted both for and against expanded gaming.
