FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Doug Bailey, 617-332-0700, 617-335-8136

STATE CONTRACT TO GAMBLING INDUSTRY CONSULTANT

SHOULD BE RESCINDED

Casino Opposition Calls For Truly Independent Study

BOSTON – Feb. 23, 2008 – Casino Free Mass, the grassroots organization opposing the Patrick Administration’s plan to build three giant casinos today urged the Governor to rescind a $189,000 contract it awarded to a gambling consultant for an allegedly independent study on the economics of its proposal.

“Hiring a company like Spectrum Gaming to conduct an independent study is like hiring Ameriquest to investigate the mortgage lending practices of Countrywide Financial,” said Doug Bailey, a spokesman for Casino Free Mass. “The administration could save its money and hire us to do the study because the results would be met the same level of skepticism.”

Spectrum Gaming is an Atlantic City-based consulting company founded by former industry regulators and executives and lists among its clients Harrah’s International and Las Vegas Sands, two corporations with Massachusetts ties that have already expressed interest in developing and building casinos in the Bay State.

“This is just another example of how the casino industry tries to control the information and rig their games,” Bailey said. “This study, whatever it says, will be dead on arrival.”

Casino Free Mass wants the Patrick Administration to conduct a truly independent study of its plan to turn Massachusetts into the Northeast’s leading gambling destination. The Coalition believes a credible independent study would find 1.) Casinos cost taxpayers more in lost businesses, lower property values, higher social service costs, bankruptcies, public safety costs, addiction and regulatory expense; 2.) Governor Patrick’s plan to tax gambling industry profits is a bad deal compared to other states; 3): Casinos exacerbate state and municipal budget woes and raise taxes.

The Casino Free Mass coalition include: The National Association on Mental Illness, Massachusetts Chapter; the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts; the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter; the Massachusetts Catholic Conference; the Massachusetts Council of Churches; the Massachusetts Family Institute; the Interchurch Council of Greater New Bedford; the Muslim American Society, Boston Chapter; Casinofacts.org Its partners include the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and other business and civic groups.

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