GAMBLING

We find out about the inaugural Indigenous Film Festival in Williamstown, chat with NEPM's Karen Brown about her series on gambling in Massachusetts, hear Rep. Jim McGovern's concerns on The West Bank, hunger and more, and find out what it takes to row a pumpkin down the stream with Dave Rothstein.

Massachusetts spends more money on research into problem gambling than most other states, but the available budget has gone down in recent years. This is the third story in our three-part series — "Safe Bet: Is Massachusetts fulfilling its problem-gambling mandate?"

The vast majority of state funding for problem gambling is earmarked for treatment and prevention, but many worry the need is still not being met. This is the second story in our three-part series — "Safe Bet: Is Massachusetts fulfilling its problem-gambling mandate?"

More than five years into MGM Springfield's operations, the state-funded GameSense program remains a key part of the legal mandate to reduce problem gambling. This is the first story in our three-part series — "Safe Bet: Is Massachusetts fulfilling its problem-gambling mandate?"

More than 2,000 employees were impacted, the AG's office said, from table game dealers to kitchen staff.

The nearly $1 billion casino has fallen short of initial revenue and hiring projections and also had to grapple with the pandemic. But local leaders said MGM Springfield has given the city's downtown a big boost.

Massachusetts House lawmakers piled about $700 million onto Gov. Maura Healey's budget, and this week the House Ways and Means Committee's $56.2 billion fiscal 2024 budget is the focus. The extra funding authorizes online lottery sales to fund child care investments, different local aid levels and more programs.

On Beacon Hill, the House included online lottery in its budget proposal to help pay for early education grants. The concept has the support of Gov. Maura Healey.

March was one of the best months for casino revenue at MGM Springfield since it opened in 2018. But in-person wagering on sporting events lagged behind other casinos in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts House's fiscal year 2024 budget would launch an online "iLottery," which top Democrats say would generate $200 million in revenue toward early education and child care stabilization grants.