在周四，马萨诸塞州州长德瓦尔帕特里克签署了一项赌博法案，批准在马萨诸塞州建设三个赌场和一个老虎机游戏厅。马萨诸塞州这一部赌博法案获得通过经历了近两年时间，在两年前，帕特里克拒绝签署一个类似的赌博法案法案。在马萨诸塞州的居民的支持下，这项法案最终获得通过。

　　随着这项法案签署成为法律，不少赌博公司正在努力竞标，争取在马萨诸塞州的赌场经营权。在马萨诸塞州，有三个地区将要建设新赌场，第一区包括埃塞克斯郡，米德尔塞克斯伍斯特郡，萨福克诺福克郡。在这些地区，还有正在审议的三个赌场：查尔顿，万宝路，米尔福德，以及三个1250台老虎机游戏厅：普莱恩维尔，东波士顿里维尔。 第二区包括普利茅斯郡，布里斯托尔郡，巴恩斯特布尔郡和楠塔基特县。该地区有一个赌场目前正在审议阶段，以及正在候审的老虎机游戏厅。第三区包括伯克希尔，富兰克林，新罕布什尔州和汉普登县。该地区有五个正在审议的赌场网站：Brimfield，霍利奥克，帕尔默，斯普林菲尔德，奇科皮。

　　帕特里克最初是反对该项赌博法案的，但帕特里克表示说：“我尊重那些有反对赌博的群众，但决定不再反对。”

　　译文

　　On Thursday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a bill bringing three casinos and a slot parlor to the state. It was the end of a long battle fought for almost two years, with Patrick refusing to sign a similar bill signed by the legislature last year. The bill that has captured the attention of Massachusetts residents and OnlineCasinoSuite.org readers for some time has finally passed.

　　With the bill signed into law, companies are fighting for support in their bids to land the contracts. There are three regions in play in Massachusetts. Region 1 includes Essex, Middlesex Worcester, Suffolk and Norfolk counties. In that region, there are three areas under consideration for a casino （Charlton, Marlboro, Milford） and three more under consideration for the 1,250-slot parlor （Plainville, East Boston, Revere）。 Region 2 includes Plymouth, Bristol, Dukes, Barnstable and Nantucket counties. The region has one area under consideration for a casino （Plymouth） and one under consideration for the slot parlor （Raynham）。 Region 3 includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. The region has five sites under consideration for casinos （Brimfield, Holyoke, Palmer, Springfield, Chicopee）。 Each region will receive one casino and the slot parlor will be awarded to either Region 1 or Region 2.

　　Many of Patrick’s earliest supporters opposed the casino bill, but Patrick stood strong and signed it. He said that “I respect those who have a moral objection” to gambling, “but I am not one of them.”