Legislation that would allow for slot-machine like devices that pay out based on historical horse racing outcomes is sparking a fight between traditional casinos in Massachusetts and a group looking to put the devices in the Boston area.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives authorized the new form of betting as part of an economic development bill passed in July, while the Senate left it out of its version of the legislation. Senior legislative leadership is now deciding whether to include it in the final bill.
Three of the state’s casino operators, Wynn Resorts Ltd., MGM Resorts International and Penn Entertainment Inc., released an economic report on Monday saying the gambling expansion would take as much as $216 million in annual revenue from their businesses, which pay a higher tax rate than the new machines would, and cost as many as 1,074 casino jobs.
