Wednesday, May 13, 2014, Anti-Casino activists stated they may request a recount of the referendum that narrowly approved a casino for Brockton, Massachusetts. An organizer for the Brockton Interfaith Community, Isabel Lopez made a statement on Wednesday that anti-casino activists will meet in the next few days to decide if a recount of the Brockton Massachusetts Casino project is necessary. The vote was 7,163 for and 7,020 against making it a narrow margin of 143 votes – giving the community’s blessing for developers to seek the third and final resort casino license. If approved the casino will be built on the old Brockton Fairgrounds. The project is expected to be $650 million.
The Massachusetts Gaming and Entertainment spokesman, Joe Baerlein said “the company is not concerned with a recount.” He stated those who are for the casino project knew it would be a close call.
Lopez stated if a recount is decided against, her and her team of activists will not stop trying to get the casino resort project terminated. The next step would be to get more citizens involved to express opinions that the casino is not a good choice. She indicated they would try to get youth to voice their opinion against the casino.
In addition to Brockton, Somerset and New Bedford projects are vying for the license. MGM Springfield and Wynn Everett have secured licensing and are in the construction phase. Those casinos could open as soon as 2017. Plainridge Park in Plainview garnered the only slots parlor license for their race track which opens June 24th.