Senator O’Leary and Representative Madden oppose gambling bill

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State lawmakers passed a gambling bill Saturday, that calls for three destination, resort-style casinos and two licenses for slot machines at racetracks.

The senate voted 25-15 in favor of the bill. Sen. Robert O’Leary voted no. The house voted 115-36 in favor of the bill. Cape and Islands Rep.Tim Madden opposed the measure in the house. Because the house passed the legislation with a two-thirds majority vote, a veto — which the governor has promised — or an amended bill revised to the governor’s liking, is unlikely to be sustained by that chamber.

The senate originally wanted a bill that would call for three casinos and no racinos (race tracks with slot machines) but the senators ended up settling for the house bill, which was sent to Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk. Because the senate fell two votes short of the two-thirds necessary to override, the fate of the legislation remains in doubt.

The governor, who is opposed to slot machines but not to casinos, agreed to approve one slot machine but rejected the bill when it called for two slots. He sent back the amended bill that would license only three casinos and no slot machines. In order to save the gambling bill, the House and Senate would each have to give a two-thirds majority to override Patrick.