On Thursday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission signed the Wynn Resorts proposal for the Everett site; however, the public still has an opportunity to repeal casino gambling in the Bay State.
The November voter referendum is something that Mayor Carlo DeMaria of Everett doesn't want.
"There is a lot of money to be lost if we were to repeal this law," Mayor DeMaria said.
He says the casino will clean up a contaminated site, increase surrounding property values, and bring jobs to the area.
Meanwhile, John Ribeiro, an opponent to casinos, says not to buy that sales pitch.
"All voters need to do is look around. States like Connecticut, New Jersey, look at Detroit, places where they already have casinos. Casino promises never pan out," John Ribeiro said. "The jobs don't come through, the revenue doesn't come through, crime always goes up, property values always go down."
Wynn's Robert DeSalvo disagrees. He says Boston is different.
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"We know the story with the other states. There's been a lot of competitive pressures, but I think when you add up the combination of what Wynn does with its five star resort development in a city like Boston, it's unstoppable," DeSalvo of Wynn Las Vegas explained.
Ribeiro continued by explaining if the casino succeeds, Massachusetts should prepare to see the lottery fail.
"And that's money that goes directly to cities and towns. It doesn't pass through the people's hands down here in Beacon Hill to decide what's going to happen with it, and that's money that funds teachers and firefighters and police and builds roads, and those are all union jobs, don't forget. So, when you talk about jobs, those are jobs that are also going to be impacted when the lottery takes a hit from the casinos," he said.
The question that asks whether you'd like to repeal the Massachusetts Gaming Law will be on the ballot on November 4.
