Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Massachusetts Treasurer Timothy Cahill says he has no objection to slots at tracks in that state. Speaking to the editorial board of the Framingham Daily News Transcript, Cahill said he is open to installing slots at tracks, but only if his office, which also oversees the lottery, is in charge of them.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives rejected a Republican-sponsored bill in April of 2003 that called for installation of 6,000 slot machines at four racetracks and creation of two new venues for an additional 3,000 machines. However, Cahill believes that the recent resignation of House Speaker Thomas Finneran, who staunchly opposed expanded gaming, removes a barrier to passage of a slots bill.

Darren Johnson, spokesman for House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, said he’s encouraged to hear that Cahill has no opposition to slots legislation and cited the machines as a way to close the state’s $1 billion budget gap without raising taxes.