Will Massachusetts Get Their First Resort Casino and Offer Poker?

The Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe and the Cape Cod town of Middleboro Massachusetts USA are anxiously awaiting word from Governor Deval Patrick regarding whether he supports casinos in the state, as the tribe and town wish to develop a $1 billion Mohegan Sun-style casino in Middleboro, making it the state's first casino.

A task force led by state Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Daniel O'Connell studied the issue of gambling in the Bay State, and last month submitted their secret report to the governor, who so far has exhibited his best poker face in refusing to reveal where he stands on the issue.

Patrick promised an announcement this week.

When the Mashpee Wampanoag were granted federal recognition in May, they immediately became eligible to offer, on their own sovereign land, any kind of gambling allowed in Massachusetts. The tribe has said it will apply within the next two weeks to take more than 500 Middleboro acres into trust for the purpose of locating a $1 billion Mohegan Sun-style casino there.

If Gov. Patrick does approve casino-style gambling, then the Massachusetts State Legislature still needs to decide whether full casino gaming will be permitted.

Should the Legislature not approve Class III gaming (which allows bettors to play against the house), the tribe has said it will build a Class II gaming facility, offering bingo slots in which bettors technically wager against one another, although the machines function like traditional slot machines.

After more than 3,700 voters approved an agreement at a special Town Meeting last month, Middleboro has become the tribe's partner in the casino venture. The project would bring the financially battered town upwards of $11 million a year and $250 million for road and infrastructure improvements.

Indian casino gambling in Massachusetts would require an agreement with the state, presumably with the tribe turning over a percentage of its revenue in lieu of taxes, according to a Standard-Times staff writer, since a casino would be on Indian land, which is not taxable. A portion of that payment could be used to mitigate potential damages in surrounding communities.

MORE CASINOS ON THE HORIZON?

Though the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is in the current gambling spotlight, the state is not limited to only Indian gambling. In fact, state Treasurer Timothy Cahill has proposed licensing a limited number of commercial casinos as a way to boost state revenues.

He said two casinos, for example, would provide the state with "a minimum of $500 million and we're looking at the possibility of up to $1 billion."

In fact, a report issued earlier this month from UMass Dartmouth's Center for Policy Analysis recommended that the state license three commercial casinos, including one in Southeastern Massachusetts, and to allow the area's Indian tribes to run two of them.

Center Director Clyde W. Barrow said: "If the governor and state Legislature approve world-class commercial resort casinos at Suffolk Downs and in Southeastern Mass. and Western Mass., they will ensure Massachusetts' dominance of New England's gaming, entertainment, tourism, hospitality, and convention and meeting industries."

He also suggested that New Bedford would be a better Southeastern Massachusetts location than Middleboro because it would be better situated to "recapture" some of the Bay State gamblers now going to Connecticut and Rhode Island.

In an earlier study, the Center concluded that Bay Staters spent more than $1 billion in 2006 at Connecticut's casinos (Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) and Rhode Island's slot parlors (Twin River and Newport Grand).

Along with the Mashpee Wampanoag, there are several groups with casino projects they would like to develop in Massachusetts, should Govenor Patrick give his approval.

More Poker News Articles

Fabrice Soulier Joins Everest Poker's Pro Roster
12am Thu Nov 26th, 2009

To further strengthen its support for French poker in anticipation of the opening of that market, Everest Poker has signed renowned French poker pro Fabrice Soulier as its latest ambassador.

HHPT Co-Sponsors Bayou Poker Challenge Ladies Event Dec. 20
12am Wed Nov 25th, 2009

The HighHeelsPokerTour (HHPT), the first all women's poker tour launched on the East coast, will wrap up their 2009 schedule at Harrah's New Orleans on December 20th where they will co-sponsor the Ladies Event #14 no-limit Hold'em at 12 pm.

OPPAGA Reports on Florida's Online Poker Options
12am Tue Nov 24th, 2009

Given that UIGEA permits individual states to regulate online poker, the Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) published a report this week presenting three options available to Florida State lawmakers in order to protect consumers from unlawful internet poker: regulate it, prohibit it, or carry on with the status quo pending federal legislation.

BC Poker Champion Arrested, Charged with Manslaughter
12am Tue Nov 24th, 2009

Just two days after taking down the BC Poker Championships Main Event, Sophon Sek of Cloverdale, BC, was arrested in connection with one of the most storied crimes in the Province's history.

Local Businessman Bags European Poker Tour Vilamoura Bling
12am Sun Nov 22nd, 2009

The European Poker Tour rolled into the Casino Vilamoura last week, instantly generating the richest poker prize pool in the nation of Portugal's history.

Keikoan Captures Harvey's Lake Tahoe WSOPC Championship
12am Thu Nov 19th, 2009

This week marked the finale of the biggest annual tournament series in Northern Nevada, the WSOP Circuit championship at Harvey's Lake Tahoe. While the Main Event saw only a modest turnout, it did boast of a tough final table, and a WSOP bracelet owner as the eventual champion.

WSOP Main Event Champ Joe Cada to Appear on Letterman
12am Wed Nov 18th, 2009

The poker world will receive some late night attention tonight as "The Kid" Joe Cada, the youngest champion in the four decade history of the World Series of Poker Main Event, takes a seat next to embattled talk show host David Letterman.

First Korean Champ of Asia Pacific Poker Tour Crowned in Cebu
12am Tue Nov 17th, 2009

Another stop on the Asia Pacific Poker Tour is in the books, this time it's the APPT Cebu in the Philippines, and for the very first time a Korean player has come out on top.

Pollack Done as Commish of World Series of Poker
12am Sat Nov 14th, 2009

Just three days after crowning Joe Cada as the 2009 Main Event champion, officially closing the special 40th anniversary run of the World Series of Poker, Jeffrey Pollack has resigned his post as Commissioner of the WSOP.

Durrrr Signs as Team Full Tilt's Youngest Member
12am Wed Nov 11th, 2009

Tom "durrrr" Dwan is the newest member of Team Full Tilt, the online site's highest level of affiliation. At 23, Dwan is the youngest of the now 14-person team. The high stakes cash phenomenon was nominated for induction this year into the Poker Hall of Fame until the Hall of Fame Governing Council decided he was too young to meet the "has stood the test of time" qualification.