BOSTON, MA. -- "The casino plan was about creating 20,000 permanent jobs and thousands of construction jobs and bringing back additional revenue. In that sense, the people of Massachusetts lost by the Houses' decision," said Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.

That's his response to what he said was never really debated at the State House in Boston. On the table were the Governor's three proposed casinos. But inside the House, proponents of the legislation said the game was lost long ago because no one was willing to strike a deal.

"That's the reason that we're at gridlock today because there is no compromise involved," said joint committee on bonding chairman David Flynn.

There may not have been much of a compromise, but the Bay State's leading gaming opponent said there's a reason the numbers didn't add up, which resulted in a 106-48 defeat in the House.

"We look at examples like New York State, where slots at the tracks were supposed to produce $400 per machine, per day. They produce somewhere between $112 to $173 a day. So we're taking numbers like that and questioning the revenue figures," said committee on economic development chairman Daniel Bosely.

Although the potential for some kind of a gaming compromise does still exist, the lieutenant governor said that, for now, the fight is over.

"I don't think the Administration is going to beat a dead horse. There's plenty of work to do on a lot of different fronts. I think it's a lost opportunity in terms of twenty-five percent of all adults in Massachusetts visiting Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods at least once a year," said Murray.

It's an issue that may have divided the Legislature, but with a $1.3 billion budget shortfall, both parties know that finding ways to raise revenue is the latest challenge.

"We have to come up with other alternatives. The other big alternative is taxes and let me tell you something. I, for one, would much rather be voting for a resort-based casino than to increase citizens' taxes," said Senate committee on oversight & audit chairman Marc Pacheco.

That's a vote that'll also be a bit of a gamble.