MA: Last Call for Alcohol at Casinos?
By Bill Fine, President and General Manager
July 25, 2017
Boston —How much alcohol is needed to keep a Casino afloat? Massachusetts may grant Casinos the right to serve alcohol until 4am – this development courtesy of a provision tucked into the 2018 budget by a House – Senate conference committee and signed by Governor Charlie Baker. With an 8am “first call” for alcohol; Massachusetts currently allows 18-hours of service each day. Casino operators, who often serve free drinks to playing patrons, say it’s not enough.
One thing is for certain, the debate is going to be a vigorous one before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission grants such a license. As it should be. The logic that an extra two hours of drinking will pave the way for casinos success is a stretch. There is no shortage of people who became billionaires running gambling operations.
The fact is all the state’s new licensees bid with open eyes – and won their licenses with an alcohol shut down between 2am and 8am. Fears of intoxicated patrons hitting our streets before dawn is logical. The concentration of players is likely to be local. Remember, that was the pitch for legalized gambling in the first place, to keep those dollars from crossing state lines.
This extension is a slippery slope to further relaxation of other regulations, with the accompanying undetermined consequences. Perhaps the biggest casualty is that by creating a special class of late night entertainment, puts long established local bars and restaurants at a distinct disadvantage. Better to leave the status quo intact, with a level playing field, for all those seeking our entertainment dollar. And then a few years down the road – after Massachusetts Casinos have actually opened for business and local communities can better gauge the initial impact – that would be the time to revisit this topic.