Massachusetts legislators are still going around and around on a proposal that would allow the last call for drinks served at Bay State casinos to be moved back to 4 a.m. if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission wants to exercise the option.
The provision was discovered in the House version of the proposed $40.5 billion state budget. The current last call is 2 a.m. with no drinks served again until 8 a.m.
When planned build out occurs the state will have three casino resorts and one slots parlor. Only the slots parlor, Plainridge Park, is open. The others are rising in Springfield and Everett.
The House leaders who inserted the proposal say that it would make Massachusetts casinos more competitive. Casinos would not be required to serve that late, nor would the commission be required to require them to.
The strongest proponent of this is Wynn Resorts, which is building the Wynn Boston Harbor in Everett across the Mystic River from Boston.
A spokesman for Wynn said that the casino must meet “widely held” expectations.
“Among those expectations is the option of enjoying a drink while they play at the casino.”
MGM Resorts International, which is building the $950 million MGM Springfield, says it has not discussed the matter.
Plainridge Park has an agreement with its host city to stop serving drinks at midnight.
Las Vegas casinos serve drinks 24-7, as does Atlantic City and some resorts in Maryland. The Indian casinos in Connecticut stop serving drinks at 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends.
Since patrons of casinos are likely to be hotel guests, the question of drunk driving isn’t normally a factor, say supporters of the idea.
The Senate is due to go through the House budget proposal next month. Senate President Stan Rosenberg, who helped write the 2011 gaming expansion bill, has already said publicly that he is “not a fan” of changing the rules since it might open the door to begin making other changes to the law.
