Revere residents cheer casino vote

REVERE – Councilor at large-elect Brian Arrigo believes that a casino at the Suffolk Downs racetrack can turn Revere into a “world class city.”?It has been a long time coming,” Arrigo said. “I hope to see a casino in Revere.”Massachusetts lawmakers approved a compromise casino bill Tuesday to license up to three resort-style casinos and a single slots parlor. Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to sign the bill today after a final procedural vote affirms it in the Senate.Ward 3 Councilor Arthur F. Guinasso is also excited about a potential casino in Revere. “It is an old phrase that everyone has been saying, but it is all about jobs, jobs, jobs,” Guinasso said.He said Revere residents want a full-fledged casino at Suffolk Downs, not just a slots parlor.?It has been a gaming institution for like 75 years now,” Guinasso said about Suffolk Downs. “Why can?t we just have a full-fledged casino there?”Arrigo agreed. “A casino in Suffolk Downs just makes sense. It?s close to Boston and Logan Airport and makes Boston more of an attraction and makes Revere more of a destination city.”Councilor at large Anthony Zambuto has seen the preliminary proposed plans that Suffolk Downs has made to become a resort-style casino.?It is going to be magnificent,” Zambuto said. “It will really be wonderful if it comes here.”Zambuto feels that the odds are in Suffolk Downs? favor to get the bid. “I think they got a 60-40 shot in our favor if I were a gambling man,” quipped Zambuto.The councilor feels most residents in Revere are excited about the prospect of having a casino in their backyard.?(The) majority of people are excited about it, I feel,” he said. “There are a few people who are against it just because they are against gambling in general, but you hear more people excited about it. The benefits far outweigh the negatives.”Senior citizens are the most excited, he said.?I think this means the most to senior citizens,” Zambuto said. “Now, they don?t have to take that bus trip all the way to Foxwoods or Mohegan.”Still, Arrigo wants to make sure Revere citizens are protected if a casino opens at Suffolk Downs.?I would like to see a task force started with the police chief, fire chief, some councilors, business people and citizens to discuss what needs to happen to make sure we are covered when it comes to traffic and public safety,” Arrigo said. “We need to discuss this so we are all on the same page.”People outside Revere also welcomed the news of the bill?s passage.?The Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce supports any economic endeavor that will create jobs, bring visitors to the region and pump money into the local economy,” Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce President Leslie Gould said in a statement.Gould believes a casino in Revere would help Lynn.?A successful casino at Suffolk Downs means that Lynn becomes a very attractive location to build a hotel and other services that will be needed to service visitors to the area,” she said in the statement. “It could jump start the waterfront master plan project and others in the city with boundless development opportunities and we have to visualize and realize the connections from a thriving casino that will benefit Lynn.”Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].