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WORCESTER, Mass. — State Sen. Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester) and State Sen. Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) announced the Senate today adopted an amendment that would provide cities with more than 175,000 residents the local ability to require a favorable vote from the entire community to site a resort casino in the municipality.
“This language provides Worcester with an important tool to have a city-wide referendum if the City Council believes that is the best way to proceed on a gaming proposal,” said Chandler.
Previously, only approval from the city-ward hosting the facility was required for such municipalities. Under the Senate proposal, the city councils in Worcester and Boston are given the ability to opt out of the one ward scenario to require a full vote of the community to approve of a resort style casino in the city. The House version of the gaming bill does not provide for this option.
“This provision provides the citizens of the city of Worcester the ability to determine what types of economic development are appropriate for their community,” said Senator Moore.
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