HARTFORD, Conn. – The race is on for more casinos in southern New England as Connecticut and Rhode Island look to expand to keep up with huge competition expected from Massachusetts, now that the Bay State has jumped into the business.
Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun is seeking to build a casino in Palmer, Mass., as other casino developers look at Springfield and Holyoke as competitors for a western Massachusetts site. And Rhode Island voters will be asked next year to approve a ballot question on whether to turn a slot parlor into a casino.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation Tuesday authorizing the greatest expansion in gambling in the state since the lottery was established 40 years ago. The new law authorizes up to three competitively bid casinos and one slots parlor. It caps a five-year effort that backers say will create thousands of jobs and generate hundreds of millions in revenue.
A slot parlor could be operating in two years, while it could be four years before destination resort-casinos are in business, said Massachusetts state Sen. Stephen Brewer, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and a casino supporter.
Mitchell Etess, chief executive of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, which runs the Mohegan Sun
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