By Associated Press
Thursday, October 13, 2011

State senators have approved a bill that would allow the state to license up to three resort-style casinos and one slots parlor in Massachusetts.

The 24-14 vote in the Senate followed by five days of debate spread over the last three weeks. Senators approved dozens of amendments to the House-passed bill, while rejecting more than 100 others.

Differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill must still be worked out before it can be sent to Gov. Deval Patrick for his signature.

The bill would authorize one casino to be located in eastern Massachusetts, one in western Massachusetts and one in the southeastern part of the state.

Bids for the resort casinos would start at $85 million and one of the three licenses must be awarded to a federally-recognized Indian tribe.

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