Massachusetts, a state that has traditionally been opposed to all forms of gambling that don't involve horses or greyhounds, is close to legalizing casinos within the Commonwealth.
At this point, the exact details of the bill that will legalize Massachusetts casinos are being finalized and it is widely expected that it will be rapidly approved. Governor Deval Patrick is a supporter of casino gambling, and both the Massachusetts House and Senate are on board.
A major point in the proposal is that casinos will be allowed to offer free drinks to patrons. In the Bay State, doing so will require changing major liquor laws, which will have ripple effects across the entire industry.
The compromise version drops an amendment tacked on to the Senate bill that could have eased restrictions on happy hours in Massachusetts by giving all of the state’s bars and restaurants the same ability as casinos to offer free or discounted drinks.
The bill allows casinos to offer free drinks on the gaming floor.
The compromise bill also requires the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to study all the state’s alcohol laws and report back to lawmakers.
In Massachusetts, bars and clubs haven't been able to have happy hours in the same way that many cities do. Boston bars have usually offered discounts on food rather than drinks, because the law currently says that the price of alcohol can't be raised or lowered after a price change for a certain amount of time.
Comments