Massachusetts Residents Want Slot Machines

Governor Deval Patrick has said that he wants to bring in more revenue sources for the state, and has not ruled out the idea that one of those sources might be slot machines. Patrick has been riding the fence on the slot machine issue, and many are wondering which way he will end of leaning. Many slot machine companies are already lobbying for the gaming machines, and now a new survey says Patrick might want to seriously consider them.

The University of Dartmouth’s Center for Policy Analysis just released the findings from their public opinion research and they found that the majority of residents would approve slot machines in the state. With more than a thousand residents surveyed:

• 53.3% would vote to legalize slot machines
• 29% were opposed to slot machines
• 18% were undecided about slot machines
• 56.5% would vote for a slot machine casino in the state, with the majority of them saying they thought Western Mass. was the best place to put it.

The state’s best bet for adding slot machines would be at their four racetracks, but Patrick said earlier this week that he was not planning on mentioning any slot machine or gambling revenue in his budget proposal that will be due at the end of the month. UMass at Dartmouth estimates that Mass residents gamble roughly $821 million at slot machines in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The Senate passed a bill last year that allowed the state’s four racetracks to bring in slot machines, but the House vetoed it. Most agree that without Patrick’s support, slot machines probably won’t be legalized – but that if he is behind them that they stand a pretty good chance.

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