Ambrosino: Development, not gambling, for Wonderland

REVERE – A top state legislator says the arrival of casinos in Massachusetts is “inevitable” but Mayor Thomas Ambrosino thinks the chance of one opening at Wonderland Greyhound Park is slim.”I assume it will be dark for awhile,” Ambrosino said Thursday in reference to the dog track’s grim future after a Jan. 1 ban on dog racing begins.Gov. Deval Patrick lost a bid in the Legislature last year to bring casinos to the state but the ascension this year of House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who represents Revere and supports casinos and slot machines at racetracks, has gambling proponents enthused about their prospects, although they’ll need to turn many votes in the House.DeLeo’s state Senate counterpart, Senate President Therese Murray, told a radio interviewer Thursday she thinks the advent of casino gambling “definitely is inevitable.”A spokesman clarified Thursday that Murray believed both a vote on casinos and the facilities themselves are foregone conclusions. Murray did not specify a time frame.Asked whether she backs racetrack slot machines, she replied, “I support destination casinos. But that’s only my own opinion.”Legislative leaders have said a gambling vote would take place next year. Nine months into the session, they still haven’t scheduled a public hearing on gambling bills, though one is expected sometime this month.Dog racing supporters have threatened to file a lawsuit arguing the racing ban violates the constitutional right of dog owners and racing workers to earn a living. The suit cannot be filed until after January when supporters will be able to demonstrate the economic cost of the ban by pointing to layoffs and cutbacks at the tracks.Proponents of the ban won voter support to end racing last November. They say dog racing is harmful to greyhounds and say they have sufficient enough support in the Legislature to oppose any move to overturn the ban. Ambrosino on Thursday said he “would be very surprised” if casinos or other types of gaming come to Wonderland.”I expect the land to be redeveloped,” he said.Wonderland and Suffolk Downs signed an agreement in August 2008 giving Suffolk the option to develop both track sites and share in future development prospects. Wonderland is located across North Shore Road from the Wonderland subway station and adjoining land parcels where developers plan to build hotel, residential towers and a commercial plaza during the next decade.