A move to make slot machines legal at Boston Logan International has fallen flat. The Massachusetts State Senate just rejected a measure by State Senator Marc Pacheco that would have permitted the devices.

Pacheco contended slots would have raked in revenue from out-of-state tourists. At some airports, notably Las Vegas’ McCarran International, you can’t turn around without running into a slot machine. They’re virtually everywhere. A tip from this Cheapflights reporter: if you’re so inclined, perhaps the best day of the week, and the best time of day, to play the slots at McCarran is early Sunday morning.

While Logan may be bereft of one-armed bandits, it is in line to land a better baggage screening system. Massport recently okayed an effort to replace the nation’s first major in-line baggage screening system with a more capable second-generation set-up. “In-line” means you don’t have to schlep your luggage from the ticket counter to a minivan-sized machine for screening – all that’s done out of sight.

In a prepared release, Massport CEO David S. Mackey says the new system will serve up “significant efficiencies and redundancies.” But here’s the really important part: Boston’s TSA Federal Security Director, George Naccara, contends technology improvements “will streamline the baggage screening process and will free up more of our resources for frontline security functions and pilot programs designed to create a more-risk-based, intelligence-driven security environment.”

Ironically, the decrease in airline competition might translate into a better bag system.  Mackey says, “Airline industry consolidation has…given Massport an opportunity to consolidate baggage screening operations into fewer rooms.” He says that means less staff, less equipment, and a reduced need for utilities.

What do you think about airport gambling? Should more cities use on-site slots as a way of raising revenue from visitors? Let us know what you think.

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: cloud2013)