Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts strives to educate the public and citizens of Massachusetts on subjects useful and beneficial to the community, in order to create a more diverse, educated, economically competitive, and environmentally sustainable Commonwealth. These aims are furthered through presenting topics in a full and fair manner to a wide audience in order that the public may form independent opinions and conclusions, by making available the results of nonpartisan analysis, study, or research on legislative issues, by performing advocacy and, to a significantly lesser degree, by engaging in grassroots lobbying.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Statement from CSM President Scott Harshbarger

Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts, issued the following statement on the appointment of Stephen Crosby as the chairman of the new Gambling Commission.


Statement of Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts

“While I and many other concerned Massachusetts residents remain skeptical of the promises made by casino supporters, Governor Patrick today made an inspired selection in Steve Crosby as the chairman of the powerful Gambling Commission. Steve is a bipartisan realist with strong credentials, demonstrated independence and impressive experience in both the public and private sectors. He is smart, tough and honest and I hope his selection sets the standard for strong appointments from the Governor, Attorney General and Treasurer.

“The new Chairman will be judged in the near- and long-term on his actions and I hope critics and proponents alike will watch, comment and participate in this critically important process. Among the important early steps for the commission is to showcase its independence in decision-making, create a strict code of ethics and conduct for all commission matters and clearly establish a process for decisions which imposes a new level of transparency and civic engagement.

“The hard work on casinos and slots begins now, with Steve Crosby at the helm. I believe the Governor, Attorney-General and Treasurer will get it right and appoint more truly independent-minded commissioners willing to stand up for the Commonwealth and its best interests.”

Friday, December 9, 2011

Kraft, Wynn Ramp Up Foxboro Casino Plans

It's now official - Suffolk Downs will have competition for the coveted Eastern Massachusetts casino license, and Joe O'Donnell should be concerned. And as the respective sides gather politicians to their respective camps, it remains unclear who will win the fight.

As the Boston Globe reports, the competition is less focused on which group - Foxboro or Suffolk Downs - is most qualified to run a casino, than it is on which casino can attract the heaviest political hitters to their cause. In Steve Wynn's corner - business magnate Robert Kraft and Governor Deval Patrick. And with Joe O'Donnell - House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Boston Mayor Tom Menino.

Foxboro residents have already begun to a refrain of "enough!" Between the Patriots, Major League Soccer, and a never-ending string of concerts, the small community's infrastructure has already been pushed to the limit. Add a 24 hour - excuse me, 23 hour and 59 minute - per day casino, and Foxboro will be pushed beyond its breaking point. Of course, Wynn and Kraft have promised to make a Foxboro casino "bucolic," but really, can you take the word of a man known for revamping the anything-but-bucolic Las Vegas strip?

Monday, December 5, 2011

Globe: Kraft/Wynn Casino Alliance Signals Possible Trouble Ahead

In a Boston Globe article, Adrian Walker ponders whether the Massachusetts gambling industry - led by business and casino titans Robert Kraft and Steve Wynn - could "become a beast that will strain the state’s ability to regulate it." Mr. Walker rightly notes that it is an industry "defined by desperation," and questions the negative effect that casinos will have on quality of life in the Commonwealth.

Click here to read the entire article.

CSM President Scott Harshbarger Boston Globe Opinion

Click here to read Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts' President Scott Harshbarger's Opinion article published in the Boston Globe on Saturday, December 3, 2011. The article discusses what will be needed in the members of the yet-to-be-named gaming commission.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Globe Editorial: Patrick Should Review Bialecki's Actions

Gregory Bialecki, the secretary of housing and economic development, appears "untroubled" by his clear violation of state ethics laws, says the Boston Globe. Bialecki, who testified to the benefits of expanded gambling three days after finding out that he owned $17,000 of casino stock, decided to sell his shares only after the Globe inquired into the matter. While he now admits that he was "dumb" for failing to ask advice on the matter from Governor Patrick, his excuse for his pro-casino testimony - that his remarks were prepared for him without his knowledge - is beyond absurd.

Click here to read the entire article.

Click here to read another Globe article reporting on the ever-increasing competition for the licenses that would become available, should Massachusetts legalize expanded gambling.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Casinos and Personal Information: Tracking Your Every Move

No longer satisfied with normal marketing techniques and focus groups, casino owners are now able to track gamblers' every financial move, even outside of the casino. Software available to them permits casino owners to monitor any gambler who used a credit card, check card, or ATM machine on the premises. Once in the system, every transaction made by a gambler is recorded and organized to allow casinos to know the spending habits of a particular gambler - even transactions made at other casinos. All this tracking is meant to provide information to attract the biggest gamblers to their establishment in lieu of that of a competitor.

Though cleverly worded as "MVP" patrons or "high-potential" gamers, it is clear that this sort of tracking is meant to seek out problem gamblers who will be prone to losing the most possible money.

Click here to watch how this tracking works.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Statement of Scott Harshbarger, President of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts

CSM President Scott Harshbarger released the following statement this morning in reaction to today's Boston Globe article, reporting that Gregory Bialecki, secretary of housing and economic development, held more than $17,000 in Wynn Resorts Ltd. and Las Vegas Sands Corp. Both companies have expressed interest in building a casino in Massachusetts, should they become legal. Mr. Bialecki reportedly sold his stock in the two groups after Globe inquiries into this potential conflict of interest.


“The cozy relationship between our elected and appointed officials, casino bosses and their hired guns is deeply troubling and today’s Boston Globe expose just peels back another layer of this rotten onion. The more we learn about the insider dealing that shrouds this entire issue, the more red flags it should wave for all of us, including legislators and the Governor.

“Secretary Bialecki, who has been a leading proponent of the alleged economic benefits of casinos, was right to dump his financial investment in casino stocks but he’d be smarter to advise the Governor to dump his support for this bill until he completes the truly independent cost and benefit analysis the Governor promised. From jobs and revenues to regulatory structure and law enforcement – this bill absolutely will not deliver on its promises.”

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

CSM President Scott Harshbarger on Fox 25

Click here to watch CSM President Scott Harshbarger on Fox 25 discussing the ongoing casino debate in Massachusetts. Referring to casino gambling as "fool's gold," Mr. Harshbarger points out that casinos have to be allowed to give out free drinks and junkets to be a functional business model, all the while causing increased gambling addiction & devastation to surrounding communities. Mr. Harshbarger also points out that the "race to the bottom" has already begun, noting the happy hour amendment that would allow discounted alcohol in state bars and restaurants.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Statement of Scott Harshbarger, President of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts on Senate Passage of the Casino Bill

The following is a statement from Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts, on the Senate’s passage this afternoon of the casino bill. 


“We are, of course, disappointed with the Senate’s vote to follow the House in approving a bill which, if it becomes law, will irreparably and undeniably hurt the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. After weeks of so-called “debate,” the process now goes back behind closed doors where key differences in this bill will be hammered out the same way the bill was written – in secret, with no transparency or public voice.

“With protesters camping out on sidewalks only blocks from the State House pleading for a voice in their government, it is shameful Beacon Hill clearly hasn’t learned the lessons of its recent past and insists on moving forward with a bill that will only help casino owners, lobbyists and special interests. There is still time to kill this bill and we continue to hope lawmakers and Governor Patrick will see this is clearly a bad bet for Massachusetts.”

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Blue Mass Group: CSM Analysis "Stunning"

CSM's analysis of the proposed gambling bill was picked up by Blue Mass Group, which reported that "[a]s many of us have long suspected, the estimates the gambling interests and their front groups are using are WRONG!"

Click here for a link to the full story.

Statement of Scott Harshbarger, President of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts

Copied below is a statement from Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts, in response to claims that casino critics are ‘elitist’ for questioning jobs, revenue and local aid estimates being offered by bill proponents.


“It’s a shame our leaders must resort to name-calling rather than embracing an honest debate on the complex issue of casino gambling. Unfortunately, the cloud of phony outrage at our penetrating analysis of this bill’s failings still hasn’t yielded an answer about the false hope of their baldly inaccurate jobs, local aid and revenue estimates. It’s time they acknowledge the slight job increase casinos will bring aren’t new jobs but replacements for ones lost to casinos by surrounding businesses.

“This bill was worked out in secret by no more than three State House leaders and has been proven by the media to be a larded-up, special interest giveaway co-authored by the casino industry to help feather its nests at the expense of hard-working Bay State residents.”

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

CSM Release & Analysis Press Coverage

In an article published on October 11, 2011, the Associated Press reported on Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts' detailed review and analysis of the gambling bill's supposed benefits. According to the AP article, Senate President Therese Murray "dismissed" the reports of potential job losses - unfortunately a recurring theme amongst Beacon Hill leaders - all the while admitting that the introduction of legalized gambling in Massachusetts could result in an initial decrease in state lottery revenues.

Click here for a link to the full article, published by the Boston Herald.

CSM Release: Economic Development & Local Aid Numbers are Troubling

Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts issued the following release on October 11, 2011. 

Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts Releases Gambling Analysis Documents

Today, Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts released several documents containing detailed analysis of the proposed gambling bill. These documents can be found below.

Follow the Money (if you can)

Gambling Revenue Distributions

Gambling Timeline

Expanded Gambling & Local Aid

Future Local Aid Scenario

Monday, October 10, 2011

Casinos and slots - the new Massachusetts Miracle?

Citizens of the Commonwealth - Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today to Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts to help us continue to try to educate the public about the unfair and deceptive campaign being waged by our Beacon Hill leaders and casino and slot profiteers and their lobbyists to sell a product that is not only a flawed economic development, revenue and jobs model, but is being rushed to enactment before most citizens and their elected representatives understand that, as presently structured, this product is a massive give away to special interests, and, if used as intended, will cost everyone far more than we gain.


There is still time. Education and prevention are the best and cheapest form of consumer and public protection. Together we can!


Please click on the link to the right to make a donation, and click here to read a letter from CSM President Scott Harshbarger.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Suffolk Downs Owner's Donations to Politicians' Charities: Statement of Scott Harshbarger

This morning, the Boston Globe reported that Suffolk Downs owner Richard Fields has contributed $16,000 to charities closely associated with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino & East Boston state Senator Anthony Petrucelli, a move the Boston Globe said "helped both politicians maintain their political profiles" over the past two years.

Below is a statement from former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts, in reaction to this globe article.


"This morning's Boston Globe highlights yet another instance of the looming shadows stretching into our political, social and now even nonprofit culture by the greedy insiders and shady players that dominate the casino industry. There is clearly much here for the State Ethics Commission, the Attorney General and even the Senate Ethics Committee to review and, if the allegations are true, investigate.

"People ought to be expecting questions about these suspiciously-timed donations during debate today and the public should wonder why the leadership of the House, Senate and Governor Patrick are not seeing that one of the costs of the industry's harmful impacts is the fact that it is already tainting the decisions allegedly being made to help our Commonwealth."

Click here for a link to the full article.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Herald: Deleo Staffer Questioned Casinos' Benefits

In a report drafted while working for then state representative Daniel Bosley, current Deleo aide James C. Kennedy described casino proponents' motives as "unscrupulous." In the report, Mr. Kennedy went on to say that the commonwealth will, "with a bit of luck, scarcely break even."

CSM Member Kathleen Conley Norbut was quoted in the article, the full text of which is available here.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

CSM Report: Top 10 Problems with Gambling Bill, Legislative Conflicts of Interest

The past 24-hours have seen a major upheaval in the debate over casinos and expanded gambling. After an actual debate broke out on the Senate floor, Senators went behind closed doors to hash out an agreement on a one-year ‘cooling off’ period before legislators could take jobs at casinos. This debate exposes one in a litany of problems in this casino bill, one of 10 highlighted by Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts on the eve of the Senate debate.

What issue will Senators ‘discover’ next? More problems affecting local arts groups? We have several recommendations of badly-needed fixes before this bill proceeds.

“We urge everyone to take a good, hard look at this list of just 10 fatal flaws with this wrong-headed boondoggle disguised as a jobs and revenue plan for the Commonwealth,” said Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts. “We’re thrilled people are starting to awaken to the follies in this bill and commend Senate leadership for encouraging true debate. Now’s the time where that promise meets reality and Senators need to act to fix – or reject – this bill.”

Click here for a link to the CSM Report.


The Boston Globe has also picked up and reported on the watering-down of the cooling off period from five years to one. Click here to read an article explaining the legislature's doublespeak rationalization of the reduction: "that a strong prohibition would only feed the public’s perception that lawmakers cannot be trusted." And click here to read a Globe editorial criticizing the same.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Statement of Scott Harshbarger, President of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts

On Tuesday, CSM President Scott Harshbarger Responded to a Boston Globe article detailing the patronage and corruption that legalized gambling has brought to Pennsylvania. Mr. Harshbarger's statement:

The grand jury report about the troubling situation in Pennsylvania isn’t just a cautionary tale for Massachusetts, it’s the norm when the casino culture is allowed nearly unfettered entry into a state. Our leaders are poised to hand unprecedented power to a newly-created, taxpayer and casino-funded commission that will be the welcome-wagon for a new wave of Beacon Hill corruption, waste and scandal. At best, our leaders are saying the obvious won’t happen here. At worst, they are on the cusp of opening the door to untold new scandals created by an industry that consistently defies law enforcement  and regulatory controls.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Globe: PA Casinos Bring Profits, Corruption

Pennsylvania's foray into casino gambling should be viewed as a cautionary tale by Massachusetts lawmakers, reported the Boston Globe on Sunday. The Keystone State, which legalized casinos in 2004, has been unable or unwilling to control the corruption, patronage, and back-room dealings that have become commonplace in the halls of government. In part due to poorly drafted legislation, individuals with felony convictions, mob ties, and at least one person accused of throwing his girlfriend from a 23rd story building were all approved for licenses or for employment within the gambling supervisory agency.

A Grand Jury investigation concluded, among other things, that "[n]o applicant was ever deemed unsuitable, despite its clear existence in some cases."

To read the entire article, click here.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Berkshire Eagle Editorial Denounces Casinos

On Monday, the Berkshire Eagle issued another editorial questioning the benefits that casino gambling will bring the commonwealth. Likening applauding casinos' proposed measures to treat gambling addiction to applauding cigarette companies for placing warning labels on their packaging, the Eagle correctly notes that the best way to prevent problem gambling in Massachusetts is to keep gambling out of Massachusetts.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Cape Cod Times: Current Casino Bill Foregoes State Revenue

The proposed legalized gambling bill leaves hundreds of millions of dollars on the table, reported the Cape Cod Times on Tuesday. Between Governor Patrick's 2007 proposal and the bill as currently written, licensing fees have dropped 57%, taxes on casino revenues have dropped 2%, and required casino infrastructure investments have dropped by $500 Million per casino.

CSM President Scott Harshbarger was quoted in the article as saying that these concessions to the casino industry are indicative of things to come, should the bill become law.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Statement From Scott Harshbarger, President of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts

Today, Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts President Scott Harshbarger issued the following statement in response to news that casino owners in Connecticut are again going back to the state to renegotiate their longstanding deals (this one on security costs), to undercut revenues to the state.

“This is yet another red flag for the public, the media and our elected leaders as we careen toward the cliff on casino gambling. The experience in Connecticut, Rhode Island and around the country show us again and again that promises from casino owners and laws meant to bind them go quickly by the wayside and predictions of jobs, revenues and other benefits falter in this troubled industry. This is a fresh reminder that casino bosses inevitably return to the state to demand better and better deals and that, once legalized, this industry cannot be harnessed or controlled. This is why it is so important to conduct a full cost and benefit analysis before any further votes on legalizing casinos.”

Friday, September 16, 2011

Globe Article Details Gambling Amendments & Opponents

Click here to read an article detailing the gambling goings-on over the past several days on Beacon Hill. Among other things, the article details the multitude of amendments filed by gambling opponents and proponents, as well as describes recent anti-gambling gatherings outside of the State House.

Globe: Referendum Provision an "insult" to Boston Residents

Though just one of the multiple "flaw[s]" in the proposed gambling bill, the Boston Globe called a provision that will exclude Boston residents from a casino referendum a "special insult." The provision, which excludes the cities of Boston, Worcester, and Springfield from voting on whether to allow casinos in their surrounding communities, is widely viewed as Speaker Deleo's pet project to ensure a slot barn be introduced in his home district.

Click here for a link to the full article.

CSM President Scott Harshbarger debates Casinos on NECN

Click here to watch a terrific debate between former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and gambling supporter Jay Ash, aired on NECN.

Globe: Gambling Bill Gives Away Revenues to Casinos

On Wednesday, Noah Bierman reported that the 25% tax levied against casinos' daily take lets casinos off the hook relatively easy in comparison to many other states with legalized gambling. Gambling opponents say that this amount will mean hundreds of millions of dollars lost every year to already-wealth casino owners.

In defense of the bill's low tax rate, Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg (D-Amherst) cast the potential casino industry as a golden-egg laying goose that the Massachusetts legislature must keep healthy.

Now that we see how the legislature views the casino industry, and its role in supporting casino owners, the give-aways and sweetheart deals packed into the bill should come as no surprise.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Globe: Gambling Opponents Call For Cost/Benefit Analysis

The Boston Globe reported that at least two Massachusetts lawmakers, in addition to CSM & Kathleen Conley Norbut, have called for a revised and realistic cost/benefit analysis of expanded gambling in Massachusetts.

In particular, Rep. Denise Provost, D-Somerville, filed an amendment that would require such a study to be completed before any casinos could be licensed.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Berkshire Eagle Editorial Slams Casino Bill

The editorial's title nicely sums up the thoughts of Massachusetts casino opponents: "Bad bill, badly crafted." Calling the bill "pre-digested" for lawmakers to "swallow" without meaningful public debate, the Berkshire Eagle refutes the notion that an expanded gambling industry will provide the number of jobs promised by casino proponents.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Masslive.com Reports on State House Gambling Protest

Click here for an article posted on masslive.com, reporting on a protest by opponents of the expanded gambling bill in Massachusetts. The article quotes CSM President Scott Harshbarger, who stated that "[t]his bill is troubled, it was negotiated in secret by the big three leaders and is being shoved in front of legislators for a high-pressure leadership vote with little analysis and less time to consider."

The article comes on the heels of a report issued by Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts detailing the top ten problems associated with the expanded gambling bill.

Monday, September 12, 2011

The Salem News Opinion Letter From Sue Tucker; Former MA Senator

Sue Tucker, former Massachusetts state senator, describes in a Salem News opinion piece many of the ways Massachusetts and its citizens could be "fleeced" by expanded gambling in the commonwealth.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Profile of Scott Harshbarger

On Sunday, September 11, 2011, Dante Ramos of the Boston Globe profiled CSM President Scott Harshbarger and his efforts to ensure that the public is fully educated as to the consequences of expanded gambling in Massachusetts.

Click here for a link to the full article.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Boston Globe Editorial: Statement of Scott Harshbarger

Former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts, released the following statement on The Boston Globe’s shift from support to opposition of legalizing casinos. The Globe editorial is linked below. The Globe editorial follows one published by The Boston Herald, which, while still supporting casino legislation raised similar and significant questions about this flawed bill. 

Statement from Scott Harshbarger, president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts:

“Today’s courageous Boston Globe editorial rightly highlights some of the most troubling issues in the ‘deeply flawed’ casino legislation and should give legislators, Governor Patrick and constitutional officers ample reason to reject this bill. The more people actually read this 155-page giveaway-laden proposal, the more problems will be exposed. Everyone must now clearly recognize this bill does more for deep-pocketed special interests and friends of the powerful than it does to create jobs and raise revenue.  “It is time for the rank-and-file to show they have learned from Beacon Hill’s torrid scandals and will put the Commonwealth’s best interests first by not blindly following the Speaker, Senate President and Governor. It’s time to kill this deeply flawed and wrong-headed bill.”

Click here for a link to the Globe Editorial.


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Boston Globe Editorial Calls Casino Bill "deeply flawed"

In a terrific September 8, 2011 editorial, the Boston Globe railed against the insider politics and sweetheart deals that characterize the proposed expanded gambling bill currently working its way through Beacon Hill. 

Among other things, the Globe accuses House Speaker Robert Deleo of wording the bill to expressly benefit his own district in an "unwarranted" manner.  In addition to revenue kick-backs from slot parlors to subsidize race purses at Suffolk Downs, the bill will prevent citizens of Boston from participating in a ballot vote on whether a slot barn should be permitted in Deleo's own district.  Deleo has accomplished this by including a clause directing that in any city with greater than 125,000 residents, only the host "ward" must approve a casino.  Curiously, this clause would only apply to Boston, Worcester, and Springfield.  As such, the residents of Boston would not be included in a vote to decide upon the fate of a slot barn in Deleo's Suffolk district. 

For these and other reasons, the editorial calls upon "rank-and-file lawmakers to reject the plan."

Click here for the full article.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Globe Op-Ed Blasts Casino Deal

In a September 1, 2011 op-ed, Joan Vennochi highlighted the greed and closed-door politics that are driving expanded gambling into Massachusetts.  Among other issues, Ms. Vennochi noted that Governor Deval Patrick seems to support gambling interests only in non-election years, that the bill as currently written is ripe for yet another patronage scandal in the Commonwealth, and that while the rallying cry of proponents is "Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!" Nevada - with all its casinos - boasts among the highest in the nation for unemployment.

Click here to read the entire article.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Gambling Proponents Betting on Rosy Pre-Recession Numbers

On Saturday, the Boston Globe reported that estimated casino revenues & job creation are based on the assumption that the recession is simply an "economic blip" that will be in the commonwealth's rear-view mirror by the time casinos open for business in Massachusetts.  However, Moody's Investor Services now predicts that casinos in Massachusetts might not fare as well as proponents of expanded gambling would like to think, given the recession's potentially permanent effects on consumer spending and availability of capital.

Click here for the entire article.

Click here for a related article, discussing the proposed legislation's preferential treatment of Native American tribes in casino licensing applications.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Scott Harshbarger on Radio Boston, WBUR

Click here to listen to Scott Harshbarger on Radio Boston, discussing the recently unveiled proposal to expand casino gambling in Massachusetts.

Globe Article: Many Lawmakers Kept in the Dark on the Gambling Issue

Yesterday, the Boston Globe published an article outlining the proposed bill to expand gambling in Massachusetts.  The following is a quote from the article, which can be found here:

The bill was developed behind closed doors by House and Senate leaders in consultation with Governor Deval Patrick’s staff. Few other lawmakers, even those who serve on the committee that drafted the legislation, have been included in the talks. Many said they had not seen the bill yet and were not even aware it was being released today.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Boston Herald: NY Expanded Gambling Worrisome for MA

The Boston Herald reports on the potential for expanded gambling in New York State.  CSM President Scott Harshbarger is cited in the article, noting that New York's predicament demonstrates the "inevitable pressure" states with legalized gambling are under to continually loosen gambling restrictions.

Statement of Scott Harshbarger, founder and president of Citizens for a Stronger Massachusetts

Not content with five Indian casinos and slots at nine tracks, the Governor of New York State is now considering allowing full commercial casinos into the state - a shining example of the inevitable pressures for expansion, and the culture of dependence and greed casino gambling creates. New York's example is a crystal clear and very instructive lesson for all of us in Massachusetts, including our legislators, regulators and the Patrick administration.

The experience in New York and 37 other states and around the globe proves that local leaders who claim they will - or even can - set a limit such as three casinos and one slot barn in Massachusetts are, sadly, just plain wrong. It is time for all of our elected officials to do their homework, to update outdated cost-benefit analyses and have a full, transparent debate about the pros and cons of welcoming this industry to Massachusetts before, not after, making a bad bet on our economic and cultural future.


Click here to read the full New York Times Article regarding gambling expansion in New York State.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

A New Tactic to Expanding Gambling?

Click here for a Boston Globe article by Yvonne Abraham discussing the possibility of expanded gambling, and of one proponent who has proposed to put expansion to a ballot vote in 2012.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Scott Harshbarger on Channel Five

Click here to see former Massachusetts Attorney General discussing the possibility of expanded casino gambling in Massachusetts