Salem Rep Predicts Tight Vote from Casino Panel

A Salem representative is predicting a very tight vote from the 45-member House panel tasked with working on expanded gambling legislation in Concord.

Speaking in front of almost 250 people at Rockingham Park Wednesday, state Rep. Robert Elliott (R-Salem) said that the consensus right now is that only a handful of voters on the joint committee are undecided about Senate Bill 152.

"Right now, the consensus is on that committee – there are 20 representatives for (Senate Bill 152), 20 representatives against it. The other five are going to be the deciding factor."

Three subcommittees on revenue, regulations and community impact will come back together today at 1 p.m. in the Legislative Office Building.

Elliott said that the chairmen of the three subcommittees will explain what each one of their committees has been doing and what they are suggesting for the bill moving forward.

According to Elliott, a recommendation on the bill will come from the joint committee on May 16. The committee has the choice to deem the bill "inexpedient to legislate" or recommend it to the full House.

As for the full House of 397 lawmakers, Elliott said that he predicts the bill will win, but the difference could be as little as six, seven or eight votes.

"If you take four 'no' votes in Salem right now and turn it into four 'yes' votes, you've got a total swing of eight votes which could make (Senate Bill 152) a winner," said Elliott in reference to the four Salem legislators who are thought to be against expanded gambling.

Elliott is both a member of the joint committee and a supporter of SB 152.

The legislation calls for up to 150 table games and no more than 5,000 video lottery/slot machines at one casino location in the state.