Casino bill passes the Senate 16-8
https://twitter.com/annmarietimmins/...19821901234176

I wouldn't worry too much about this. Public sentiment statewide has been pretty strongly in favor of casinos for years.

Casino ship coming to Lynn
600 passenger ship will offer roulette, poker
http://www.wcvb.com/news/money/Casin...z/-/index.html

Longtime Salem residents are quite proud to be the home of Rockingham Park, and unless you've lived on Mars for the last ten tears, its pretty easy to see that full-fledged casinos are the future in the USA when it comes to racetrack viability. Its pretty apparent all up and down the east coast- Gulfstream, Pompano, Charlestown, Pocono, Aqueduct, and soon, Suffolk Downs. I think the 81% plurality proves that out. Good to see the progress.

First the article talked about roulette, poker, etc and then he indicated that he may host weddings. Now that's real gambling.

About That Boat in Lynn:

There have been two different companies that tried to make a go at a casino boat out of Lynn, if my memory serves me well. The first failed quickly, in less than one season, due to a legal dispute with the merchant marine union. Because of its country of registry, not USA, a Coast Guard certified pilot was necessary to leave the harbor and return, a pricey proposition. The second boat failed due to limited fair weather sailing dates. Anything above a two foot sea has these small boats bobbing like a cork, on the open water of the North Atlantic, although to be fair, at an estimated 225 feet this would be the largest of them to try it. On a warm summer day, though, it is worth the price to enjoy a day on the ocean, which some passengers did, without ever gambling. The rest of the time it is a hard sell to make.

One other real positive: a job on this boat would certainly make a fine resume enhancement for anyone interested in working at the future land based casino coming to the Boston area.

Anybody know when the NH House gets their paws on this thing?

It still has to go through the Senate Finance Committee, though that is really just a formality given the recent Senate vote.

Once out of there the bill gets transferred to the House for consideration by House committees and/or a floor vote.

Best guess: April into May will be when the House really gets into the issue.

Skallagrim

Skall have those other bills you mentioned with regards to the "table stakes" had any movement?

No. They are technically still in committee.

It seems to me that those other bills will see no action until the whole casino thing is settled.

Skallagrim

Hopefully this will help it gain some support in the House, though the first claim seems pretty dubious to me.

State troopers, police back gambling bill
Law enforcement officers say casino would bolster budgets
http://www.wmur.com/news/politics/St...6/-/index.html

Modern politics in action.

The Casino bill directly earmarks some of the Licensing fee to hiring more state troopers and other related law enforcement officers.

The Chiefs of Police, who coincidentally do not have a direct earmark in the bill, continue to oppose it.

Skallagrim

There were three bills in the NH House, now it's down to one.

http://www.eagletribune.com/latestne...reduced-to-one

The bill that called for two casinos, including one on the MA border, "was soundly defeated" by a vote of about 5-to-1.

The bill that called for 5000 slot machines over six locations statewide was tabled, essentially put in a drawer until they see how the Big Enchilada Bill (one casino) does.

Casino proponents are happy about all of this. They know the governor is ready to sign a one-casino bill, the Senate has already passed it, and that's the one they want to put forward.

AP article printed today about the tribes in CT.

http://news.yahoo.com/casinos-strugg...160231070.html

We have a horse race. Wynn Casino released artist's renderings of its proposed waterfront development in Everett, Mass. today which can be viewed here:

http://theday.com/article/20130328/BIZ03/303289552/1044

Meanwhile Caesars Entertainment unwrapped a 10 foot by 6 foot architectural model of its planned casino at Suffolk Downs in East Boston. Story here:

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion..._resort_casino

Oh, wow. I thought Wynn folded his hand a while ago. He's got no shot, Suffolk has a ton of clout on Beacon Hill.

Man RT16 is a god damn nightmare already. I can't imagine adding traffic from a casino. Would be a nicer place though I think. Just wouldn't wanna be one of the construction workers but then again I worked on the big Fed Ex building near Suffolk Downs and that site was highly contaminated as well.

Here is the model of Caesars Suffolk Downs

I don't see why people think a casino will lead to traffic. They don't have peak times.

Also, minutes after I posted my confusion about Wynn hanging in there, I spoke to my sister, who pointed out to me, "Menino is stepping down. He was Suffolk's guy!"

Game (back) on!

Menino will still have some clout for most of the time the commission is "deliberating" the license awards, which are due to be announced early next year. And he wants this as part of his legacy.

The Wynn proposal seems objectively nicer, and he's spending more money on the property than Caesars, which is not surprising.

But it's probably safe to assume that the Boston connections and the desire to keep the racetrack alive is a huge advantage.

Vornado just pulled their funding outta Suffolk Downs cuz they're not down with the MGC background checks.

Looks like a non-story.

http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013...O4O/story.html

Cliffs: Company that owns ~20% of Suffolk would rather sell their piece than submit their key people to the Inquisition; Gaming Commish says, "OK, cool, but were' going to rectally examine whomever you sell it to." Suffolk CEO says this won't affect Suffolk's app at all.

Qui bono prediction about Menino- he will not run for re-election in order to become a paid lobbyist for CET..........just thinkin'......( thanks to George Wallace for the quote )

I would bet dollars to donuts that Mayor Menino in some way will be employed by the new casino at Suffolk

If he works for the new casino, I wonder how many signs with his name on it, Menino will negotiate for.

IDK about Menino. I think he was being honest when he said he was leaving the job he loved. I don't think he would have given up being "Mayor of the World". Methinks he's not long for this earth. He looks like hell.