The Massachusetts Senate opened debate on H.3702, a bill to legalize full-scale gaming.

The bill authorizes casinos in three regions. The casino in Region C -- the southeastern part of the state -- is reserved for "a federally recognized Indian tribe."

Lawmakers approved an amendment to clarify that the state can only negotiate with a federally recognized tribe. But some state recognized tribes say they should be included in the process.

However, a press release that was issued by the state Commission on Indian Affairs was not authorized by all the members, executive director Jim Peters told The Cape Cod Times.

The Senate amendment authorizes the state to negotiate a compact but only "once the tribe has identified viable sites that it has purchased, entered into an agreement to purchase, or demonstrated the financial ability to purchase a parcel of land for the proposed tribal gaming development," State House News Service reported.

Massachusetts is home to the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Both tribes are interested in gaming and want to negotiate a compact.

The House approved its version of the gaming bill earlier this month.

Get the Story:
Casino bill pits tribe vs. tribe (The Cape Cod Times 9/27)
Senate blazes through amendments on casino debate (State House News Service 9/27)
All Mass. tribes seek chance at casino license (The Cape Cod Times 9/26)
Massachusetts Senate launches debate on casinos, defeats proposals for major changes to bill (The Waterbury Republican 9/26)
Mass. Senate takes up casinos (New England Cable News 9/26)

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Tribes gear up for debate on casino measure in Massachusetts (9/14)
Opinion: Hypocrisy over tribal gaming plan in Massachusetts (9/13)
Editorial: Gaming bill gives free pass for Massachusetts tribes (9/8)
Bill offers 'small window' for a tribal casino in Massachusetts (9/7)
Opinion: Tribal casino in Massachusetts unlikely without land fix (9/6)
Editorial: Tribal interests put ahead of others in Massachusetts (8/29)
Gaming interests oppose tribal provision in Massachusetts bill (8/26)
Massachusetts gaming bill provides for just one tribal compact (8/25)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe still looking to find land for a casino (8/24)
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