STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, OCT. 13, 2011….Ending six days of debate spread over three weeks, the Senate voted 24-14 Thursday afternoon to approve legislation authorizing three resort casinos in Massachusetts and a slot machine parlor.

If an expected House-Senate conference committee can resolve differences, the bill will move to Gov. Deval Patrick, who has expressed no major concerns about the legislation.

The bill's framework was worked out by Patrick, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray prior to its unveiling in an attempt to move the legislation towards passage this year, while overcoming the stumbling block that killed the proposal last session.

Patrick objected last session to plans calling for a pair of racetrack slot parlors, but warmed this year to the bill's call for a single slot parlor that would be awarded through competitive bidding.

The House approved its version of the bill last month on a vote of 123-32. Opposition to the bill was stronger in the Senate, and the 14 votes against the bill there could become an issue should Patrick raise new objections. Gubernatorial veto overrides require two-thirds approval in each branch.

Supporters of expanded gambling legislation have touted thousands of new jobs they expect the industry to create, an infusion of new tax collections to pay for government services, and an effort to keep Massachusetts citizens spending their money in state rather than traveling to out-of-state casinos.

Opponents say casinos will siphon money away from existing businesses, open up new opportunities for crime and public corruption, and increase personal bankruptcies in connection with problem gambling.