Patrick's casino plans have residents backing

2008-05-12 17:05:16

Governor Deval Patrick may have had his Massachusetts casino proposals rejected earlier this year, but that has not stopped the majority of the state's citizens from saying they support his ideas.

Mr Patrick had planned to build at least two or more casinos in order to aid the local economy and 57 per cent of the population are in favour of his ideas, according the Worcester Business Journal.

The publication quoted figures from the Centre for Policy Analysis department of the University of Massachusetts, which also found only 30 per cent of people are against the gambling plans.

A higher proportion of supporters have been found in the suburbs for the first time as well, with 59 per cent of those in these areas in favour of casinos.

The north-west of the US does not have many casinos, with only two of Massachusetts' neighbouring states containing them - New York and Connecticut.

Connecticut's premier casino is the Foxwoods Resort, which is owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.