Casino supporters showed up in force in Springfield, Massachusetts, touting the charitable benefits — not to mention the employment ones — that would stem from an MGM Resorts International casino. For instance, MGM would continue its sponsorship of a local boxing club for young men that has gone to Ireland tw0 summers running. “It’s going to create so many programs just to help out the city’s youth,” said Western New England Golden Gloves Executive Director Dean Fay, “a narcotics detective with a vice grip who’s built like a middle linebacker.”
Perhaps Springfield should have sent Fay to talk sense to Democratic candidate for state attorney general Maura Healey, who endorsed anti-casino “Yes on Three,” trotting out a stock set of anti-casino arguments. Unfortunately for her, Healey’s proposed solutions are outside the purview of her would-be office: “infrastructure development, investments in education and job training, a more ‘progressive tax structure,’ an increase in the minimum wage and ‘unionizing our workforce’ to help create jobs and prepare residents for the modern economy.” What she could and would do is form a Gaming Division at industry expense and sent investigators to fan out across gaming floors statewide.
Meanwhile, MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis wrangled with Repeal the Casino Deal‘s Alan Cabot one last time. I don’t know if Mathis should lend Cabot the additional stature of going one-on-one …
… but MGM can’t afford to let any undecided or wavering voters stay on the fence.
* Forget waiting years for casino gambling in Japan. The legislation alone may take years to pass. That’s what sources “directly involved in the process” are telling Reuters. 
Racked by scandal, Shinzo Abe‘s government hasn’t the clout to push casino gambling forward during this session of the Diet. So you can forget about leavening your trip to the 2020 Olympics with a few hands of baccarat. “Although [supporters] aim to keep the bill on the table, the sources said there was a considerable chance it would not come up for discussion even in 2015.” Other issues — such as national defense and the budget — will take higher priority. Bill author Toru Mihara, of the Osaka University of Commerce, called the turn of events a “total loss of face” for Abe’s government and there’s nothing worse in Japanese culture than to lose face.
One particularly gloomy parliamentary source said, “If they can’t pass it now, I doubt whether they’ll ever be able to pass it.” Abe can’t even count on solid support within his Liberal Democratic Party, never mind ambivalent coalition partner Komeito. The potential delay could one of three or four years — pushing casino openings back to 2024 — meaning that MGM, Las Vegas Sands, Genting Group, Caesars Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming, etc., will have to possess their souls in patience and hope Abe is still in power four years hence.
