Vegas casino giant eyes Massachusetts casinos

BOSTON -- Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas, the nation's largest casino gambling company, has hired an influential Massachusetts lobbying firm to represent Park Place's interests as the Bay State considers allowing casino gambling.

The Boston Herald said Park Place hired ML Strategies, which is run by high-powered Republican consultant Steve Tocco.

"We would be remiss, given the nature and size and attraction of the market, if we didn't actively monitor where the state is going," Park Place spokesman Robert Stewart told the Herald. "This is not an effort to affect the outcome."

Massachusetts Gov.-elect Mitt Romney has said he is open to the possibility of having casino gambling in the state. Such casinos could compete with big established markets in the Northeast in Connecticut and Atlantic City, as well as major casinos planned by Park Place and other companies in New York state.

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