Casino grants: 5% for gambling harm, $500k on cameras

Agawam approved $58,000 for cameras based on a parent-drop-off claim police never documented.

The hit

Massachusetts towns have spent close to $500,000 in casino mitigation grants on police surveillance cameras, while only 5% of the $38.5m awarded over three years went to problem gambling programmes, according to an investigation by Boston radio station WBUR. Nine communities, including Agawam, Chicopee & Chelsea, used the funds to buy automated license plate readers.

Why it matters

The Community Mitigation Fund was set up to help towns near casinos cope with traffic, strained services & gambling harm. Reporting shows most money instead funds policing & infrastructure, with addiction treatment far down the list despite it being added as an eligible category in 2023. For bettors, it raises questions about whether casino tax revenue reaches people who need help.

The record

Total grants distributed over 3 fiscal years	$38.5m (Massachusetts Gaming Commission, via WBUR)
Spent on gambling prevention & treatment	~$1.9m, about 5% of total (WBUR)
Spent on police license plate readers	~$500,000 across 9 towns (WBUR)
Agawam camera grant	$58,000 for 6 Flock Safety cameras, near MGM Springfield (WBUR)
Ludlow fund redirection	$35,000 moved to a Flock camera contract, approved 4-1 by the Gaming Commission in June

What happens next

More than 30 Massachusetts communities have reportedly suspended or cancelled license plate reader contracts amid privacy concerns. Watch whether the Gaming Commission tightens rules on what mitigation grants can fund.

Sources: Massachusetts Towns Spend Casino Tax Cash on Surveillance as Gambling Help Gets Just 5%

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