One of the leading casino opponents is Doug George, an Mohawk lawyer.

"We're like a 60-year-old Southern dowager that's fallen on evil times," said Patrick Taylor, a New Orleans oilman and casino opponent.

The financial feasibility of building family fun around all the casino traffic is not lost on longtime casino opponents.

"This could open the floodgates," said Mitch Henck, a spokesman for Wisconsin's attorney general, James E. Doyle, a casino opponent.

Delahunt received over $15,000 in campaign contributions from the Wampanoag and Abramoff prior to leaving office sparking criticisms from good government advocates and casino opponents.

Those projects still face expected legal challenges from casino opponents that could delay work for years, but most parties were treating yesterday's development as a milestone.

Ms. Boisvert, the owner of Bonnie Bea's, said casino opponents had boycotted a charity toy drive she had held.

Still, casino opponents were skeptical that the television campaign, which is running on Connecticut's four major stations, would have much impact.

Mr. Finnerty said last week's statements by Mr. Golisano and Mr. Giambra buoyed the efforts of casino opponents.

Polls had long shown that most of the state favored casino gambling, he said, and he dismissed casino opponents as "do-gooders."