DiNatale: Yes to Casinos

The Sentinel reports today that Democratic House candidate Steve DiNatale favors casino gambling in Massachusetts, and even in Fitchburg.

We wholeheartedly agree with the first part, and are amenable to considering the second.

It's time for Massachusetts to stop the flow of gambling revenue to Connecticut and keep at least some of it in-house. The days of the mob running casinos unfettered is pretty much over. People gambling over their heads is a problem, but so is alcoholism, and you can buy booze everywhere. You can also buy a lottery ticket and play Keno everywhere, and Connecticut isn't that far away.

As for placing it in Fitchburg, we're listening. There's no guarantee a casino would create economic stimulous through new business outside the casino. Casinos are designed to keep every dollar that walks in on the property. It's big business done craftily. They don't have clocks on the wall for a reason. They don't have windows for a reason. They have ugly carpet for a reason. Crime generally goes up slightly, but traffic is generally the biggest concern.

So, we'd like to where, and how much. Where would a casino be? Certainly the closer to Route 2 the better. How much would the city's take be? Certainly the more the better.

Of course, a casino in Fitchburg is a longshot. But it's interesting DiNatale is interested. It might be the first real interesting insight we've gotten out of this House election.