Massachusetts’ gambling chairman thinks is too soon to declare slots parlours a failure

Stephen Crosby does not want the worse-than-expected financial performance to become a referendum on the Bay State gambling industry.

US.- Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby published on the commission’s website a post defending Plainridge Park Casino. The casino’s slots parlour opened in late June, performed well on its first month and then its financial projections fell off. Officials had to adjust their full-year gambling revenue from US$200 million to US$160 million.

Crosby wrote “First, five months of operation does not provide enough data to draw any significant conclusions about the status or future of gaming in Massachusetts. Gaming as an economic development tool is a long term play.”

In addition Crosby commented that Plainridge Park has had a positive economic impact beyond tax revenue by creating 500 jobs and millions of dollars in construction and supply spending. “It will be many years before we will be able to truly assess the economic outcomes of the Commonwealth’s decision to authorize expanded gaming,” Crosby added.