Projo Politics Blog

Worried about any new competition for the region’s gambling dollars, Rhode Island politicians have had their eyes and ears glued to the Massachusetts casino debate.

But on a visit here last week, Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi said he wasn’t even aware of the failed 2006 drive by Harrah’s Entertainment and the Narragansett Indians to bring full-fledged casino-gambling to West Warwick.

That could mean he isn’t likely to be influenced by Rhode Island’s moves on the gambling front.

“Did you have a referendum here?” he asked Political Scene during a brief interview at the State House.

House Majority Leader Gordon Fox jumped in to fill him in the details.

DiMasi has opposed allowing casino gambling in the Bay State. “The governor came out with a very aggressive proposal of three casinos,” he told Political Scene. “We had voted in the House overwhelmingly against slots at the race tracks.

“I told the governor that I would give him a full fair hearing, but I’m extremely skeptical on whether or not we should build an economic future and rely on revenue from casinos to pay for what we need in Massachusetts.”

So which state does he think will be the first to get a casino, now that he knows about Rhode Island’s continuing debate over how much new gambling to allow?

“Nevada,” he quipped.

DiMasi was invited to Rhode Island to speak with lawmakers here who are interested in how Massachusetts is faring in its own landmark health-care effort to insure every resident, amid growing concern about the long-term cost of the subsidized initiative.

The Massachusetts speaker joined Rhode Island House Speaker William J. Murphy at the rostrum during the House session last Wednesday.

--By Steve Peoples, Cynthia Needham and Katherine Gregg
Journal State House bureau

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