Every January, the buzz about slot machines and casinos begins at Beacon Hill, and this year is no exception.
Each year, the debate fizzles out, and we hope this year will be no exception. Gambling revenue is fool's gold, as proven in southeastern Connecticut, where two glittering casinos have made hundreds of millions of dollars for two Indian tribes and their financial backers but have contributed little to the host communities.
In exchange for creation of service jobs, the towns have been afflicted with higher crime, traffic and social ills related to gambling addictions.
The state will not benefit from a casino or casinos in southeastern Massachusetts or from slot machines at the state's four racetracks whose approval would make the next step to casinos that much easier.
Massachusetts already has an unhealthy addiction to lottery money. It shouldn't make its addiction any worse.
