Massachusetts gears up for another gaming bill

Tuesday, September 22, 2009  

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are getting ready to consider another proposal to legalize casinos in the state.

A prior effort, pushed by Gov. Deval Patrick (D), failed. But this time, some key lawmakers are on board with plans for two commercial casinos and slot machines at racetracks.

The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut plans to bid for a casino in the western part of Massachusetts. “We think it’s the best site in the commonwealth,” Jeff Hartman, a gaming executive, said at a conference on Monday, The Boston Herald reported. “We have a receptive community and are working on how the parcel can be developed depending on what is passed by the Legislature.”

On the eastern side, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is pursuing a casino under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe's land-into-trust application is under review at the Bureau of Indian Affairs amid questions that were raised by the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar.

Get the Story:
Mohegan Sun: Palmer or bust (The Waterbury Republican 9/22)
Builders chomp at bit for casino OK (The Boston Herald 9/22)
State Ready To Roll Dice On Casino Gambling? (WCVB-TV 9/21)