Ever since Sal DiMasi left, it's seemed like everybody who might ever put their photo on glossy stock and mail that out to thousands of people has bought into the idea of casinos or die. Alan Khazei, running for Senate, though, told the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce this morning that he opposes casinos:

... I understand that people are hurting and need work, but we can create good, high-paying jobs in green industries and clean energy, supporting small business and emphasizing health care, education, bio-tech, tourism, and other industries where Massachusetts has a competitive advantage. New gambling machines prey especially on primarily low-income families and people suffering from addiction - the very people who are struggling the most in this terrible economy. ...

The Herald reports an "objective" UMass professor who kept coming up with pro-gambling arguments that kept getting used by the governor, is now in the pay of a group pushing for a casino in New Hampshire.

"It's really not much," Barrow said of the amount he’s getting paid.

At a candidate forum sponsored by the Brighton Allston Improvement Association tonight, moderator Michael Pahre asked the candidates for the four open at-large City Council seats how they felt about putting a casino or slot machines at the Suffolk Downs racetrack - an idea pushed by Mayor Menino. Their answers follow (see their answers to questions on other issues).

Build a casino at Suffolk Downs now, and be snappy about it, the East Boston Chamber of Commerce says. Jim begs to differ:

... It seems to me that the expected benefits will be outweighed by the negative consequences of situating such an operation so close to an urban residential neighborhood; that the state revenue number quoted is almost certainly overblown; that Suffolk's recent philanthropy is clearly part of a strategy to enlist local support (Why not spend thousands in order to make millions?); and that [owner Richard] Fields' "pledge" [to buy local] will likely be discarded the first time he can save a penny per item on something that he needs in quantity. ...

And what better place to put a "resort casino" than Suffolk Downs?

Unlike Sal DiMasi, who managed to quash casinos, successor Bob DeLeo favors them.

Tom Menino has long supported a casino in Boston - two years ago, he backed a casino at the racetrack - and repeated that support earlier this week at a candidate's forum in the Back Bay, saying it would help create jobs.

Gladys Kravitz (yeah, yeah) reports on a recent hearing by state Sen. Karen Spilka of Ashland on bringing gambling to Massachusetts. Only people in favor of gambling - and Martha Coakley - were invited.

Both might raise the same amount of money, but we know which one the DiMasi-less legislative leadership prefers.

Gladys Kravitz (yeah, yeah), lists them all.

Jon Chesto notes that among the leadership changes pro-casino Speaker Bob DeLeo announced yesterday was moving anti-casino Rep. Dan Bosley out of his job as co-chair of the economic-development committee:

... Even if Bosley chooses to continue to speak out against casinos, his voice will carry considerably less weight now that he’s been pushed out of his committee chairmanship.

Bumpkin draws a picture; any insurgency involving pro-slots Rep. David Flynn is suspect.