Lawmakers reach compromise on casino bill

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - House and Senate leaders Friday agreed on a bill to legalize casino gambling in the state - drawing immediate criticism from Gov. Deval Patrick who threatened to veto the measure.

The bill would authorize three casinos and two slot machine parlors, the latter of which would be competitively bid upon by the state's four racetrack owners.

Moments after the bill was announced, Patrick issued a statement saying he was disappointed that it contained more than one slot parlor and that bidding was limited to the four racetracks.

"I cannot support this bill in its current form," Patrick said.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he hoped that Patrick would reconsider his opposition once he looked at the bill in detail.

"The governor is a reasonable guy," he said.

Lawmakers must approve the bill before formal sessions end at midnight Saturday.

The bill would allow one casino in each of three geographic locations in the state and also allow the state's four existing racetracks to bid on two slot parlor licenses.

The agreement comes after months of debate on Beacon Hill and days of shuttle diplomacy between DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray. The biggest dispute was over allowing slot machines at the racetracks.

A House bill called for two casinos and 750 slot machines at each of the four tracks. A Senate bill called for three casinos but no parlor.

Patrick had initially opposed any slot parlors, but on Thursday said he would consider signing off on one if lawmakers approved a slew of other pending bills. Gambling opponents complained about even that concession, saying it betrayed Patrick's past statements about the social costs and job concerns attached to slot parlors.

"It is beyond disappointing that this 'different kind of leader' would abandon such core values and core supporters to make a deal in this election year in such an obvious, old-school Beacon Hill quid pro quo," said former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, the Democrats' 1998 gubernatorial nominee.