Without rehashing the entire history of the pro-and-anti-casino movements in Massachusetts, voters should know that in 2011, the legislature passed a law allowing for up to three resort-style casinos and a slots parlor in Massachusetts as a means to recoup gaming revenue lost to facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island and to jump-start economic development around such facilities.
Local voters and the Massachusetts. Gaming Commission have already approved MGM Resorts International's US$ 800 million downtown Springfield project, Wynn Resorts' US$ 1.6 billion Everett Casino and Penn National Gaming's US$ 225 million slots parlor in Plainville.
A "yes" vote on Ballot Question 3 would repeal the law and make the aforementioned projects illegal. A "no" vote would make no changes to the current law, and allow the aforementioned projects to proceed.