Panel named to craft final Mass. casino bill

BOSTON

A legislative panel charged with crafting a final version of a Massachusetts casino bill is stacked with casino supporters.

Five members of the House and Senate committee named Tuesday back casino gambling. One member, Republican Richard Ross of Wrentham, voted against the bill as did every other Republican senator.

Committee members who voted to allow casino gambling include Democratic senators Steven Panagiotakos (pan-ah-gee-oh-TAH'-kos) of Lowell and Stanley Rosenberg of Amherst, Democratic representatives Brian Dempsey of Haverhill and Kathi-Anne Reinstein of Revere, and Auburn Republican Rep. Paul Frost.

A key decision facing the committee, which conducts its business behind closed doors, is the question of slot machines at racetracks.

The House bill allows 750 slots at each of the state's four racetracks. The Senate bill doesn't.