Governor Deval Patrick’s land casinos proposal has caused hullabaloo and debate all over the state and with many interest groups. The PPA and other groups have protested the anti-online casinos clause in the bill. But beyond all of the initial over-estimations and errors in the bill, there are some definite truths – the State of Massachusetts has a viable land gambling market with huge state tax revenue potential.

The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth recently released a study that included information on the number of Massachusetts residents who gamble in other states – it includes land casino revenue since online casinos expenditures are impossible to track at this point (thanks to the U.S. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA)). The results of the study confirmed Governor Patrick’s assertions that land casinos in the state would generate large amounts of tax revenue for the state government.

The University’s study found that Massachusetts residents gambled roughly US $1.1 billion at land casinos in other New England states that operate slots, roulette, poker, and other games. That is a significant amount of gambling funds that the state government misses out on because the tax revenue instead benefits the Connecticut State and Rhode Island State governments (among other New England states with legalized gambling).

The fact is that land gambling revenue translates into $223 million in tax revenue that can go to fill the government’s budget and benefit social programs in the state. So basically, there is certainly validity to Governor Patrick’s claims that the state could benefit greatly from offering land casinos (and blocking other forms of gambling like online casinos and poker gambling). The tax revenue potential is there, and there is definitely strength in assuming that even more Massachusetts residents would gamble if they had land casino choices nearby.

Source:http://www.gamblecraft.com/