There is a Home Poker forum here that has a sub-forum for home game listings, requests, etc. While the topic isn't prohibited here in Regional Communities, you may be better served over there.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/18...game-listings/

Anyone have any idea when they'll announce the locations, at least, of the new casinos?

Anyone in RI who will be voting on table games referendum in November?

I would take this bet.
The whole bill was written with Suffolk Downs in mind as the primary site, and strong support from Mayor Menino and Speaker DeLeo for a casino there.
There will always be some kneejerk anti-gambling local opposition to siting a casino anywhere, but I think Suffolk is a shoo-in unless they somehow screw it up really badly. (I suppose the legislature will be shocked, shocked to learn that there's gambling going on there already...)

Heyyyy
I go to Castleton State College in VT. I know there aren't any casinos in VT, but was wondering if anyone knew what the closest casino would be? Right now the closest I can find is 3+ hours away and that really is a pain in the ass. Anyone know of a closer place to play??

What was it Harvey Keitel advised Travolta and Jackson at the end of the movie? Something like, "Move out of the sticks, gentlemen!"

Yeah I don't know, he said Suffolk Downs would get the slot parlor but not a casino.

Your friends are mistaken. I wouldn't hire them for any legal work if I were you..... btw, it's Raynham that will probably get the slot parlor.

I didn't say they were my friends, these were adjunct professors at my law school who work in the state house and taught Mass Legislation. They may end up being wrong, but they definitely knew what they were talking about.

You're right about Raynham I think, they were the favorites for the slot parlor but they said Suffolk D was the other possibility for it though they could only get the slot parlor and not a casino there or anywhere that was near a T stop.

A lot of the discussion in committee was not open to the public iirc and they weren't just talking about interest groups they were talking about the prevailing view in the legislature.

It's absolutely maddening how long this is all taking. I want to come home!

More news on the Massachusetts front: Taunton gets the Wampanoag Casino.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/pol...ome&position=2
It seems less likely that a "Slots only" parlour would be built in neighboring Raynham. Even though the Raynham Dog Track ceased their charity poker operations in order to be "good doobies" and act PC in their waiting for a license. Perhaps slots license favorite now becomes Gary Piontkowski/ Plainridge Harness track? perhaps...Piontkowski has the connections, being a former head of the State racing Commission as well. He's been just as patient as the other racetracks.
Disturbing tidbits about the Taunton casino: non-smoking, which already smacks of over-meddling. Potential lawsuits, since the validity of the Mashpee Wampanoags tribeal status claims go back years (late Federal recognition)
Indian Casinos traditionally put poker as a last to arrive type of gaming. They fail to see the draw of a poker room as any kind of gateway to getting people in the doors of the casino. With them, its all about $$ generated per/sq.ft. Can't really argue with that logic either. Historically, they suck at running good poker rooms as well. (Foxwoods notwithstanding) Mohegan closed a room, and then waited until after the poker boom to reopen. Numerous IC's in California are cutting back on poker tables, and installing B/jack and other table games, billing them as non-smoking areas. (Pala, RedHawk) Others are just flat closing the dedicated rooms, and moving poker to ****tier areas of the casino (Cache Creek, Morongo) Others are just flat closing (San Pablo). The well run rooms thrive, and some are still actually growing (Thunder Valley, Pechanga )
More opinion- look for Harrahs to be the poker leader at Suffolk Downs when these casinos come to bear. With their WSOP branding, and corporate support structure, they certainly know the poker industry, and what it takes to make $$$. The other places will open rooms grudgingly, in response to a loss of headcount to other casinos with poker rooms. Longterm, perhaps a good longshot bet would be that the "slots only" parlour be allowed to open poker, or other tables games, as a result of "loss of revenue" to other facilities that have more gaming choices. ( gambling is gambling argument)

Wow, it's all peaches and cream in the Herald article you linked.

Over in the Globe, it's all doom and gloom.

agree on the Globe/Herald spin on things. My feeling is, results will be political. Deval wants it, and as long as he has "pull" in WashDC, it will prob happen. Now, this doesn't automatically mean that O must get re-elected. Romney, as well, lives in Mass., and certainly knows full-well the current economic climate. He strikes me as the more pragmatic of the two candidates.
Its all in the approach. Knock walls down demanding crap, and you usually end up wit nuttin these days.

Where did the comments go about games being run near patriot stadium on Monday nights? Were they removed or am I in the wrong sub-forum

They were removed because the cash games are illegally run.

Well ok then. That makes me sad. Gonna have to check them out one night.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.s..._to_dives.html

A good rundown on the latest on the WMass license. It's going to be interesting to see who gets that one as it appears to have by far the most competition. Apparently MGM has options on properties in downtown Springfield, which is just one potential party looking downtown right now.
As far as poker is concerned, if a downtown Springfield casino takes poker seriously, it would be an incredible room. While it's not as great a location as Suffolk Downs, it is still an amazing spot. There is a great mix of business, military bases, and numerous colleges just in greater Springfield. Also Hartford is ~30mins away, Albany ~90 and about the same distance from NYC as is Foxwoods.
Let's just hope they take Poker seriously, it would be an amazing room with a good mix of players.

Looks like there will be another gaming bill sweat in NH come 2013. Sounds like there is gonna be a big push for legislation once the new Governor is seated. Seems most people running for office in November support a casino at Rockingham Park in Salem. Would be sweet for me as I'm a 5 minute ride away.

http://www.eagletribune.com/latestne...asino-in-Salem

Would be sweet for me, too, I'd be one exit away.

It boggles my mind that NH could spot MA a year or more, and STILL get it done first, if they try.

It is def crazy. Last week the MA gaming commission said the earliest they plan to give out licenses is Winter 2014/Spring 2015. That means shovels won't break ground until atleast then. Probably looking at the first MA casino in 2018/2019?

The Town of Salem wants a casino at Rockingham more than anything right now. A family friend is on the town board and they cannot wait for the new Governor to take his seat and they seem to think it will be a lock. If they pass a bill next year, adopt gaming rules from PA(seems to be where they've been focusing their attention) and do a complete facelift of Rockingham we could be gambling by 2015 probably which would be a kick in the ass for MA. Not sure if they plan on putting up a hotel over there tho.

Are you back in Methuen YTF?

WOW! I hadn't heard that 2014 stuff. Insane.

No, I'm out in Minnesota dealing at Canterbury Park. It's really nice here, but I can't WAIT to come back home, I'm just waiting for somebody, ANYBODY, to get a casino off the ground.

Has a new Governor been elected in NH? If so, when does he swear in? Or is the current guy just not running for re-election in November?

(Pennsylvania's model is SO the way to go. MA is really going to screw this up, not only with the silly years-long delay, but by trying to reinvent the wheel.)

You got a link for that 2014/2015 MA estimate? I'd like to read more. Thanks.

The NH Governor won't be decided until November elections and won't take his seat til 2013 I believe. Here is the link to those dates I was talking about.

http://www.chelsearecord.com/2012/07...-in-late-2014/

thanks

I guess that was last week's news. This week, the state says, "The people who want to pour money all over us are eager to begin, so let's throw out that old timetable and maybe get this BS done by the end of '13."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/mas...no_developers/