Casino gambling in Massachusetts is already claiming victims.

From Wednesday’s Boston Globe piece headlined, “Changes killed with House lining up for casino bill”:

After 17 years of serving in the back benches of the House, Representative Elllen Story, an Amherst Democrat newly elevated to Speaker Robert A. DeLeo’s leadership team, said she wasn’t willing to risk being marginalized, so she will vote for the bill despite opposing gambling bills in the past.

“My sense is there will be consequences for people voting against this bill — particularly people in his inner circle,’’ Story said outside the House chamber last night. “People know if they want to chair a committee or have influence, they should think about voting for this bill.’’

There’s a profile in courage, eh?

Memo to self: Never move to Amherst.