Card Player – The state of Massachusetts could award its first Las Vegas-style casino license by mid-June, according to a report from CBS Springfield. The Gaming Commission said at a meeting on Friday morning that the plan is to award the license June 13, as long as there aren’t any setbacks. MGM is the only casino firm left standing in the race for Region B (the western part of the state). Other firms are competing elsewhere, including a Wynn Resorts plan near Boston, but it appears the state needs more time sorting through those situations. MGM is eyeing a $800…

MassLive – At least two of the companies looking to win one of Massachusetts’ first casino licenses say the state needs to change how it taxes winnings to avoid discouraging people from playing and cutting into the take for the state and the casinos. Las Vegas-based MGM and Wynn want the state to repeal a provision requiring gambling facilities to report and withhold 5 percent for state income tax on certain winnings over $600. They say casinos in surrounding states all use lower, federal standards for income tax withholding, making them more appealing to regular players, casual day trippers and…

US Poker – Those looking forward to legalized iGaming in Massachusetts will have to wait until next year. Bluff Magazine reported earlier today that plans for online gambling expansion have been put on hold for now but the matter is drawing serious attention. James McHugh, one of the Commissioners from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission spoke recently at the USA Online Gambling Forum in Atlantic City. It was there that he revealed the state of current online gambling legislation. IGaming Player shared his revelation via Twitter. This recent admission is a stark contrast of his opinions just one moth ago during…

Poker News – Massachusetts is one of nearly a dozen states showing interest in following Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware into the realm of online poker. On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is holding a forum on Internet gambling, weighing the positive and negative impacts the industry could have on the state. According to the Associated Press, Massachusetts lawmakers are seeking guidance from the commission on how to approach Internet gambling. Among the topics on Tuesday’s forum agenda include Demonstration and discussion of Internet games and a comparison to social gaming; Risks to Internet Gaming: Money Laundering, Problem Gambling and…

Mass Live – Attorney General Martha Coakley on Thursday came out against a bill allowing online gambling because it would open the door to the use of credit cards to buy Lottery products. The bill was sponsored by Treasurer Steve Grossman. Coakley’s comments opened up a new issue in the 2014 gubernatorial race, in which Coakley and Grossman are the two leading Democratic candidates. Grossman had recently attacked Coakley for her positions on criminal justice issues. Coakley’s statements indicate that she plans to be equally aggressive against Grossman, focusing on his work as treasurer. Coakley did not mention Grossman in…

From Poker Fuse Law and Regulation: The latest effort to regulate online gaming in the state of Massachusetts has stalled. Earlier this week an amendment to the state Senate budget recommendations for 2014 that would have legalized online gaming was pulled and deemed unconstitutional. The proposal, introduced two weeks ago, allowed for online gambling licenses to be issued to the state’s three casinos and one for its slots-only establishment. Licensees would have been restricted to offering games that did not compete with the state lottery. Tax on gross gaming revenue was set at 20% and interstate compacts would have been…