Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe 'knocked' out of gaming

Wednesday, March 4, 2009  

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Carcieri v. Salazar has "knocked" the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe "out of the box" for gaming, Massachusetts Treasurer Timothy Cahill said on Tuesday.

The tribe's official federal recognition didn't come until 2007. That might cut them out of the land-into-trust process, which the high court said is limited to tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934.

"I think the federal court case last week kind of knocked them out of the box," said Cahill, The Cape Cod Times reported. "I think it's less of an issue today than it was two years ago. If you remember, that's why the governor and I first proposed destination resort casinos, to try to beat them to the punch, and they are not in the game any more."

Cahill is now proposing to legalize slot machine parlors, instead of full-scale casinos. He said the tribe's proposed gaming site is not a suitable location for a slot facility.

Cahill's new proposal also eliminates a tribal preference that was in the full-scale casino plan. "I just think these are too valuable to give away, and there should be an open bidding process," Cahill said.

Get the Story:
Treasurer spins plan for slots parlors (The Cape Cod Times 3/4)
Slots-only casino plan proposed (The Springfield Republican 3/4)
Reignited gambling debate promises revenue, prompts questions (State House News Service 3/4)
Researcher: Gambling plan for Mass. should include casinos (The Brockton Enterprise 3/4)
Supreme Court ruling might give local governments jurisdiction over tribe-owned casinos (The Southampton Press 3/4)