It has been reported that a Massachusetts gaming expansion bill which would bring a trio of casinos and a slots parlour to the state was amended this week after an increased payment to the state horse racing industry was detected within it

.

According to an article by The Boston Globe, an earlier version of the bill had passed the House by a 118-33 vote and had passed the Senate by a 23-14 margin on a preliminary vote.

The report states that protests were made in regard to the bill late Monday night when it was discovered that the piece of legislation contained a provision added in the late stages which would see the state's horse racing industry receive five per cent of the monies the state collects from the incoming casinos.

After the issue was brought to the fore, the bill was amended so the Massachusetts horse racing industry would receive 2.5 per cent of the capital taking in by the state from the casinos.

(With files from The Boston Globe)