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Gambling commission clears Suffolk Downs as casino bidder

The state gambling commission by a unanimous vote has approved Suffolk Downs as a bidder for a Massachusetts casino license, saying the company has passed the mandatory state background check that tripped up the track’s former casino partner, Caesars Entertainment.

Caesars left the project this month, after learning that the commission’s staff would recommend that Caesars be disqualified as a bidder in Massachusetts.

Suffolk Downs intends to replace Caesars with another casino partner and continue its pursuit of a license to open a $1 billion casino at the East Boston horse track.

As a condition of its finding, the commission has required Suffolk Downs to have a new casino partner — one that has passed state background checks — by Dec. 30, according to a written decision issued by the commission late Wednesday.

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Residents of East Boston and Revere go to the polls Tuesday to vote on whether they will allow a casino in the communities.