The Wampanoag Indians of Martha's Vineyard, the state's only federally recognized tribe, has been trying for years to get a casino built in the state. At one point, the tribe even said it had earmarked some property in the southeastern part of the state, but it never revealed exactly where.

Supporters of the effort to legalize casino gambling in the state contend that the move would bring much needed money to the state. They point to the fact that Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, two large casino resorts in Connecticut are getting Massachusetts dollars when residents travel out of state to gamble. Opponents insist that casinos introduce a host of social problems. A proposed Indian-owned casino in Maine was recently defeated at the ballot.

This was not the first time such legislation was proposed and it clearly won't be the last. A representative of state senator Senator Michael W. Morrissey, chairman of the Government Regulations Committee, tells GlobeSt.com that someone had suggested doing a referendum on the topic but he says that as of yet there has been no action taken. "The issue is on hold," he says. "But we don't know what's going to happen in the future."