No casinos in Massachusetts after all?

The buzz whipped up just months ago by the prospect of casino gambling in Massachusetts has dissipated, silenced by a sharp decline in the national casino industry that has eroded the promise of thousands of new jobs and fresh riches for state coffers.

Governor Deval Patrick will not even discuss the casino idea now as a means of solving the state's deep budget woes, even though the concept was a cornerstone of his legislative agenda early this year.

Patrick abruptly ended a recent news conference when a reporter raised the topic, and his aides confirm the governor has not seriously considered reviving the proposal.

A core band of backers on Beacon Hill says it will push casinos again when the Legislature begins its new session in January, and it's still possible the idea could regain steam. But so far the group remains an isolated minority, and no legislative leaders are actively pushing for casinos.

It is a remarkable turnaround from a year ago, when the governor's bold plan to license three casinos around the state and generate tens of thousands of jobs dominated Beacon Hill for months. Specialists say the reason for the turnaround is basic: an economic crisis that has spread to the casino industry.

"Proponents for casino gambling can't propose half the things they did before," said the Rev. Richard McGowan, a professor of economics and Jesuit priest at Boston College who studies gambling.

"A year ago people would have thought this was an ideal place," he said. "But given where the economy is going, I doubt having three in Massachusetts makes a lot of sense right now."

The governor could no longer count on the $200 million to $300 million for 10-year state licenses that he had built into his proposal last year, specialists said. Nor could he expect to squeeze as much as 27 percent of the gambling revenue for the state's share.

On the business side of the ledger, there may not be enough of a market for the three casinos scattered about the state that the governor had envisioned. And with credit markets frozen, developers would have difficulty drumming up financing for the $1 billion resorts the governor wanted built.

UPDATE: More from the Globe and Herald.