Casino

Salvatore F. DiMasi stepped up his criticism of expanded gambling yesterday, telling business leaders in Western Massachusetts that casinos would do little to attract visitors and could alter the way of life in the state.

But the message was different in Boston, where Gov. Deval L. Patrick defended his bill to establish up to three casino resorts in Massachusetts, including one in the western part of the state. He told a meeting of leaders in the tourism industry that casinos could create thousands of permanent jobs paying between $45,000 and $50,000 a year.