Lawmakers in Massachusetts did some last minute wheeling and dealing before passing a bill to legalize casinos. Sellout Gov. Deval Patrick plans to sign the measure before Thanksgiving, adding Massachusetts to the growing list of states banking on the misguided public policy that the state can gambling its way to better times.

Of course, the last-minute changes to the gambling bill were hashed out in secret with no public input. The changes included millions more to the horse racing industry. This move is essentially a sop to House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, whose father worked at race tracks. DeLeo has a warm spot for the horse industry, so it got a special earmark. What a way to run a government. One man can decide that the tax dollars from one gambling business will go to prop up another gambling business. As if that is money well spent.

Rest assured, the action on Beacon Hill is just heating up. Get ready for the real shennigans. Keep a close watch as different casino interests manuever to win the coveted gambling licenses. Most of the process will take place in secret away from public view. But here’s one solid bet: the winners of the casino licenses will likely include the teams with the A-list political connections.

UPDATE: The Boston Globe also doesn’t like what has become of the gambling bill and urged Gov. Patrick to veto it. That would be the right thing to do but don’t hold your breath waiting for Patrick to suddenly get a spine. DeLeo has been driving this train and Patrick is just along for the ride.