Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe claims Class III rights

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts says it has a right to offer Class III games because the state allows casino nights and off-shore casino cruises.

Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a tribe is entitled to the same types of games a state allows. In nearby Connecticut, the state's "Las Vegas nights" led to Class III gaming for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

A tribe must still negotiate a compact for Class III games, though. The Wampanoags say they will pursue their rights to the fullest extent possible.

State lawmakers are considering legislation to legalize full-scale gaming. The Wampanoags are seeking to have land placed in trust for their own casino.

Get the Story:
Tribe says it has right to casino in Massachusetts (The Cape Cod Times 12/14)
Town should have a say in casino process, selectman says (The New Bedford Standard-Times 12/14)