"Notwithstanding its Puritan past and despite substantial opposition, Massachusetts has legalized casino gambling. The legislation authorizing the building of casinos was passed and signed into law in November 2011. The Chairman of the newly created Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the body that will award casino licenses in the state, was appointed by the Governor in December 2011. And the other four members of the Commission have all now been appointed, the last two just appointed on March 20, 2012.

The local press seems to carry stories on a daily basis about those bidding to enter the fledgling Massachusetts gaming market, and many familiar gaming and gambling names, including Steve Wynn, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, Hard Rock International, Genting Group and Mohegan Sun, have all initiated efforts to become Massachusetts’s first casino owner and operator. Developments have been fast and furious, with multiple deadlines approaching. Although the first Massachusetts casino is unlikely to open its doors before 2016, lenders, investors, developers and operators should begin planning as soon as possible. This client communication is intended to help in that process. It recaps the new Massachusetts law, details the important deadlines established by the law, discusses the Commission chairman’s publicly stated expectations, and identifies potential pitfalls and issues that those prepared to ante in should think about, as well as steps to improve their odds of winning."

Get the Story:
David J. Apfel and Robert M. Crawford : Casinos coming to Massachusetts: the current state of play (Lexology 3/27) Username: indianz@indianz.com, Password: indianzcom

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