Acquiring land for a casino can take years but the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts believes it can beat the state to the market.

The tribe filed its land-into-trust application late last month. Completing the process will take at least 18 months, it not longer.

Gov. Deval Patrick (D) announced a proposal for three commercial casinos last week. He believes the casinos could be up and running by 2012.

A tribal spokesperson is skeptical of that claim. "If it takes two years to do the environmental review [for the tribe] I am skeptical that this (state) process is going to be quicker than that," the spokesperson told The New Bedford Standard-Times.

Other newly recognized tribes like the Mashpee have waited five years or more to clear legal hurdles and open casinos.

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Tribe eyes early casino (The New Bedford Standard-Times 9/24)