In a surprising shift, the top casino foe in Massachusetts is now calling for a statewide vote this fall on the issue. House Speaker Sal DiMasi’s proposal is expected to revive the debate in the Bay State, one of the last major US states without casinos, over expanded gambling.

A powerful Massachusetts legislator who has blocked several gambling bills over the years is facing challenges to his leadership that could eventually open up the New England state to casinos.

Massachusetts lawmakers last week shot down a controversial bill to legalize resort casinos, handing yet another defeat to casino executives interested in breaking into one of the last untapped US markets. But the gambling industry is not yet ready to call it a day, with talk of future proposals and even a statewide referendum in the fall.

Proposals to legalise casino gambling appear to be gaining in popularity in Massachusetts as the New England state prepares to shed its status as one of the last major holdouts in the US, a new poll finds.

A major legislative battle over expanded gambling is shaping up in Massachusetts, with House Speaker Sal DiMasi signaling serious reservations with a proposal to legalize resort-style casinos. Nevertheless, the House speaker’s critique comes amid signs that support for expanded gambling in the state is growing, both among lawmakers and the general public.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s sweeping proposal to legalize resort casinos now appears headed for defeat, with a powerful state lawmaker lining up against it. The bill’s impending demise comes after months of debate that had drawn the interest of some of the casino industry’s top players.

Mohegan Sun has inked a lease for a potential gaming site that will give the giant Connecticut casino a foothold in neighboring Massachusetts, should the state authorize casino gambling. Mohegan’s decision to expand, in turn, stands out amid a time of gaming industry consolidation, as the tribe itself puts a hold on new construction at its flagship casino resort.

A drive by Massachusetts legislators to introduce slot machines and casinos could ignite a regional gambling war, with neighbouring states rushing to match the latest moves by New England’s economic powerhouse.

A hotly contested proposal to legalize resort casinos in Massachusetts has mobilized groups on both sides of the issue, with local political leaders and business executives squaring off against religious and social activist groups. The election-style campaigning comes as Gov. Deval Patrick prepares to make a major State House push this spring in a bid to win passage of his casino plan.

Massachusetts political leaders have begun hammering out a deal that could legalise slot machine and casino gambling in the key New England state. The discussions highlight the dramatic political shift in the Bay State in the wake of the resignation of the state’s top gambling foe, former House Speaker Sal DiMasi.