The Massachusetts Gaming Commission wants input into the Class III gaming compact being negotiated by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick (D).
Patrick told reporters on Tuesday that a deal is imminent. The commission hasn't been included in talks.
"We have expressed to the governor's office that we would like to be part of that conversation before anything is totally agreed to, because we have our own concerns, which include how you're going to deal with surrounding communities," commission chairman Steven Crosby said at a public meeting on Thursday, The Cape Cod Times reported.
The commission will hold a meeting March 21 to consider the status of the tribe's casino bid.
It's possible that the southeastern Massachusetts region could be opened to non-Indian developers.
"We're going to rejoin the issue on (March) 21st, when we'll consider whether to wait for the tribe or open the area to commercial bids," Crosby said at yesterday's meeting, The New Bedford Standard-Times reported.
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Politician pushes for casino padding (The Cape Cod Times 3/1)
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Politician pushes for casino padding (The Cape Cod Times 3/1)
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Massachusetts Gaming Commission discusses potential impacts on host, surrounding communities (The Taunton Daily Gazette 3/1)
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