Residents Split on Casinos

Residents in Arlington center expressed differing viewpoints Tuesday on the prospects of having casinos in their home state.

Some said the potential job creation and increase in state revenue would outweigh any possible negatives.

"People in Arlington take buses to out-of-state casinos all the time," resident Maria Caldas said. "I'd rather see that money spent in our state."

Others disagreed, calling casinos "a tax on the poor."

"I see them as a short fix that would create more problems down the line," said 20-year-old Joyce Fienman, of Arlington.

The state House and Senate recently passed bills that would allow casinos in Massachusetts. However, the bills differed, so legislators are forming a six-member committee, which will meet in private, to draft a final compromise.

The House bill grants two casinos and 750 slots at each of the state's four racetracks. The Senate bill allows for three casinos to be built statewide and maintains the existing ban on racetrack slots.

A look at the resident responses:

Kurt Guler

Arlington resident Kurt Guler, 20, said he's in favor of having casinos in Massachusetts.

"I think that, if they're taxed, they'll be a great source of income for the state," he said Tuesday.

Guler, who will purchase an occasional scratch ticket, said he might reconsider if one of the casinos were to be slated for Arlington.

Currently, no casinos are being discussed for Arlington or its neighboring towns.

Beth Cohen and William Cooper

Arlington's Beth Cohen and her 18-year-old son, William Cooper, both of whom don't gamble, agreed Tuesday that casinos should be outlawed, as gambling tends to attract those who can least afford it.

"I'm afraid that casinos would further increase the disparity between the rich and the poor," said Cooper, while the pair tried to stay cool in the shade outside Robbins Library.

Cohen said she didn't have a strong opinion on the issue but believed the state should look at other options to increase revenue.

"I understand the state needs money," she said, "but I'm not convinced this is the most efficient way to collect taxes."

As for the probability of a casino in Arlington, Cohen wasn't too worried.

"We only got liquor licenses two years ago," she said.

Nancy Solomon

Nancy Solomon, who's lived in Arlington for 40 years, had mixed feelings Tuesday about what's being proposed.

"I'm not crazy about it," she said, "because it depletes funds of people that have the least funds to be depleted.

"At the same time, however, the state needs money, and I don't like services being cut, especially in our schools."