Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe in 'holding pattern' on casino bill

Thursday, June 24, 2010  

The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe is waiting to see how a bill to legalize casino gambling in Massachusetts turns out.

The tribe wants to build a casino in the city of Fall River. But the details won't be worked out until a final package emerges from the state Legislature.

"We are in a holding pattern," Naomi Carney, the chairman of the Wampanoag Gaming Corporation, told The Martha's Vineyard Times. "We are just waiting like everybody else."

The state Senate began debating a bill [Summary | Full Text] to authorize three casinos. One of them would be located in the southeastern part of the state, where Fall River is located.

The bill does not include a tribal preference. But the Aquinnah theoretically could apply for the casino so long as the tribe complies with all state civil and criminal laws and waives its rights under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe would also have to share revenues with the state, according to the bill.

Get the Story:
Casino odds change on Beacon Hill for Wampanoag Tribe (The Martha's Vineyard Times 6/24)
Senate casino debate opens with familiar arguments (The New Bedford Standard-Times 6/24)
Senators at odds as casino debate opens (The Boston Globe 6/24)

Related Stories:
Massachusetts lawmakers to consider casino resort measure (6/23)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe offered compromise on casino bid (6/22)
Massachusetts gaming bill forces tribes to follow state laws (6/21)
Massachusetts governor not bothered by rival tribal casino (6/10)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe asserts reservation casino rights (6/9)
Wampanoag tribes make case for casinos in Massachusetts (6/8)
Opinion: Taking a huge gamble on gaming in Massachusetts (6/7)
Opinion: Learning lessons from tribal casinos in Connecticut (6/7)
Massachusetts gaming bill authorizes just one tribal casino (6/4)
Gaming bill in Massachusetts reserves one casino for tribes (6/3)
Column: Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe casino a risky gamble (6/3)
Massachusetts governor addresses Wampanoag casino bid (6/2)
Editorial: Playing the odds on Mashpee Wampanoag casino (5/28)
City approves sale of land for Mashpee Wampanoag casino (5/27)
Tribal rights an issue as Massachusetts weighs gaming bill (5/26)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe presents casino project to city (5/25)
Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe to present another casino plan (5/24)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe commissions poll on new casino (5/21)
Town weighs options on Mashpee Wampanoag gaming deal (5/20)
City council members against Mashpee Wampanoag casino (5/19)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe switches location for casino bid (5/18)
Mashpee Wampanaog Tribe announces new casino location (5/17)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe negotiates for a new casino site (5/14)
Town presses Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe about casino bid (5/12)