Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe still looking to find land for a casino

Wednesday, August 24, 2011  

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is still looking for land to open a casino in southeastern Massachusetts.

The tribe's first two sites fell through. Talks for a new location never produced a deal, although the owner of a racetrack is still willing to deal.

“There’s always a possibility for that. Right now we don’t have an agreement, but we’ve had a lot of friendly talks in the past,” Raynham Park owner George Carney told GateHouse News Service. “Politics makes strange bedfellows.”

The tribe will gain exclusive rights to a casino in the southeastern part of the state -- also known as Region C -- if a gaming bill that was unveiled yesterday becomes law. The bill authorizes the governor to enter into negotiations for a Class III compact.

The bill sets a deadline of July 31, 2012, to negotiate a compact. And if the tribe can't win approval of a land-into-trust application, the state can open the Region C casino for bids.

Get the Story:
Mashpee tribe gets casino boost (The Cape Cod Times 8/24)
Bill calls for 3 casinos, 1 slots parlor (The New Bedford Standard-Times 8/24)
Casino efforts on deck again (The Worcester Telegram & Gazette 8/24)
Raynham Park owner George Carney eyes slots and resort casino (GateHouse News Service 8/24)
State leaders agree on casino bill (The Boston Globe 8/24)

Related Stories:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe praises Massachusetts gaming bill (8/23)