Evening Briefs: Mariano on Happy Hour | Slots for Vets

Speaker Open To Happy Hour Talks

Speaker Ronald Mariano said Thursday that he is open to discussing a reversal of the state's ban on happy hour drink promotions, but he stopped short of either supporting or opposing the idea. In an interview on Bloomberg Radio, Mariano said he is "committed to taking a look" at legislation Rep. Mike Connolly is crafting that would examine a possible revival of happy hours and stressed he does not yet "support it totally." Beacon Hill banned happy hour specials for alcoholic beverages in 1984 following several high-profile motor vehicle crashes involving impaired drivers. Asked if allowing promotions could boost restaurants and bars hit hard by the pandemic, Mariano replied, "That remains to be seen.""There has to be a balance between what aid you give to bars and restaurants and the public safety issue that is a real concern for many people, but it is worth giving it thought," Mariano said. Seventy percent of Massachusetts residents indicated they would support bringing back happy hour specials for alcoholic beverages, according to a MassINC Polling Group survey released Wednesday. Connolly is developing a restaurant and bar relief bill (HD 3896) that he said will convene a discussion among stakeholders about possibly lifting or updating the ban. Gov. Charlie Baker said earlier on Thursday that he is skeptical about the prospect, recalling "awful, horrible, terrible experiences on a very regular basis that came with happy hours back in the day" involving drunk drivers. - Chris Lisinski/SHNS

House Ties Slot Machine Licenses for Vets to Sports Betting Bill

Not only is the Massachusetts House poised to approve legal sports betting Thursday, but through an amendment from Rep. Paul McMurtry, representatives are also on track to further expand casino-style gambling to some veterans' organizations like American Legion and VFW halls. The amendment would allow a veterans' organization to operate "a gaming establishment with no table games and not more than 5 slot machines" for only its members in good standing if it secures a "limited slot machine license" from the Gaming Commission. The House adopted McMurtry's amendment without discussion during its consideration of a sports betting bill Thursday afternoon. When Massachusetts legalized casino-style gambling a decade ago, lawmakers approved a framework that includes up to three resort-style casinos and one slots parlor. Two of the three casino licenses have been issued, to MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor, and Plainridge Park Casino holds the lone slots-only license. Under McMurtry's amendment, any veterans' organization that operates slots machines would have to annually pay a 5 percent tax on their profits. Gross gaming revenue is taxed at a rate of 49 percent for the slots parlor at Plainridge Park and at a rate of 25 percent for MGM and Encore. The money generated by slot machines at a veterans' organization "shall be the property of the limited slot machine licensee, and shall be used for charitable, fraternal or civic purposes, including, but not limited to, veterans' benefits," the amendment says. In order to qualify for slot machines under McMurtry's amendment, a veterans' group would have to be active for the previous five years, be approved by a local licensing authority and conform with rules and regulations that the amendment tasks the Gaming Commission with producing. No one younger than 21 would be allowed in the building when a slot machine is in use at a veterans' organization facility. - Colin A. Young/SHNS

-END-

7/22/2021