A bill that will bring three resort casinos to Massachusetts made its way through the Senate on Thursday night by a margin of 25-15. Among the pro-casino voters was Milton Senator Brian A. Joyce.
 
Joyce said he supports the casino bill for three reasons: Native American tribes have been federally recognized to open casinos in the state, gambling will create jobs and the casinos will keep gambling money in the state.
 
Joyce said the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe would inevitably open a casino on their land within the next few years, a move they could make whether or not the state allows gambling. If the state legalizes gambling the tribe will go through the state rather than the federal government, making Massachusetts a beneficiary of gambling taxes.
 
By building and operating three destination casinos in the state, Joyce said he believes there will be a sizable jolt to the job market.
 
"While the economy is growing, we want to accelerate that and create more jobs," said Joyce, who estimates between 10,000 and 15,000 jobs will be come to the state.
 
Joyce's final reason for supporting the gambling law relates to nearby states that have resort-style casinos. The senator estimates between $1.2 and $1.9 billion are being spent in casinos by Massachusetts residents. Legalizing the practice in state will keep that money local.
 
"The evidence is irrefutable that we're losing over a billion dollars to our neighboring states," Joyce said.
 
The Senate proposal will now be debated in a joint House of Representatives and Senate committee. The House bill, which sanctioned two casino resorts and 750 video slot machines at the state's dog and horse racing tracks, was approved in April.