While Independent gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos’s views rarely fall on the same side of an issue as Republican Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, both support legalizing slot machines in state racetracks while Democrat Deval Patrick does not.

“It hasn’t really come up as a key issue yet,” said Healey campaign spokesman Nate Little. “I’m sure that it will come up in the next legislative session, but for now, Healey is in favor of slot machines, but not in favor of casinos.”

Although Little predicted slot machines would bring an “obvious” boom to state revenue, he said more studies must be done in order to gauge whether the addition of such gambling devices would be beneficial or detrimental to the Massachusetts community.

“We need to balance the positives to the economy against the potential negativity,” he said. “We need to see the process run its course before we can make that judgment — we need to see it run through.”

Little said Healey will take all sides into consideration before legalizing slot machines, including ensuring “that slot machines do not create a negative impact on state lottery,” which contributes millions of dollars each year to the state’s revenue.

While stressing the importance of implementing strict regulations, Mihos told The Boston Globe in February that he “would be in favor” of legalizing slot machines in the state.

However, according to the article, spokesman Kahlil Byrd said Deval Patrick strongly opposes the possibility of bringing slot machines to Massachusetts. Even if you can’t play physical slot machine games, you can go online with daftar situs slot gacor.

“We can’t do anything to jeopardize that,” Byrd said in reference to the potentially damaging effects to the community and lottery.

With the success of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos in Connecticut, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council in Cape Cod may be interested in opening a casino, but officials say it is not a great concern at the moment.

“We’re currently waiting for approval for official recognition,” said Scott Ferson, spokesman for the council. “We’re in favor of slot machines in Massachusetts, but we didn’t file the petition for land with that in mind. Only recognized tribes would have that right.”

According to Margot Cahoon, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, 250,000 residents have had gambling trouble at some point in their lifetimes.

“Gambling brings on a reaction to the brain comparable to cocaine,” she said. “It’s the same type of stimulation.”

She said the MCCG does not officially taken a stance on the issue, but hopes legislators consider all the facts.

“Many people take [gambling] for what it is — recreation,” she said. “But we need to make sure the compulsive gamblers are taken care of as well — the state has a responsibility to those who participate in state-funded gambling.”

“After the creation of Foxwoods in Connecticut, 75 percent of gambling compulsion in the state was due to slot machines,” Cahoon said, noting their detrimental effects. “There was hardly any before.”

Cahoon rejected the idea that slot machine’s contribution to the state revenue would outweigh any potential harm to the community.

“If people believe it does then they should make sure prevention is funded,” she said. “There are so many consequences to gambling: borrowing from friends, skipping work, neglecting family and, when the money runs out, people can very easily turn to illegal activity to fund the addiction.”

Cahoon said there is help available in Massachusetts for gambling compulsion.

“Most see therapists trained for this, or go to Gambler’s Anonymous, which is a twelve-step program,” she said.

“Some can identify the problem on their own, but we don’t hear from them too often,” she continued.