Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposal to license three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts is dead — at least for this year — stalling the latest competitive threat for Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun.

But although state legislators rejected Patrick’s plan Thursday, Massachusetts may not be done with the idea of allowing blackjack, roulette and slot machines.

“I do think it is inevitable,” said Clyde W. Barrow, director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. “The length of time it’s getting put off is getting shorter and shorter.”

Both Connecticut casinos rely heavily on neighboring states for customers. Other New England states have, without success, considered introducing Las Vegas-style casinos, including a proposal by Harrah’s Entertainment in Rhode Island in 2006.

After an impassioned six-hour debate, the Massachusetts House voted 106-48 to send the casino bill to a study committee, effectively defeating it and ensuring that it could not come back up for debate until next year, at the earliest.

The legislation called for licensing three so-called destination casinos in different regions of Massachusetts, which the governor said would create $600 million in licensing fees, $400 million in annual tax revenue and 20,000 permanent jobs.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi argued that expanded gambling would drain revenue from other businesses and increase personal bankruptcies, petty crimes and other social ills.

The vote was a key defeat for Patrick, whose spokesman issued a statement saying that the governor thanked supporters and looked forward to working with lawmakers to “push our comprehensive jobs creation and economic development agenda.”