It looks like the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe will be facing competition for a casino in southeastern Massachusetts. H.3702, the state's gaming law, reserves the casino for "a federally recognized tribe." The Mashpees have negotiated a Class III gaming compact and have submitted a land-into-trust application that's being treated as a high priority at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, however, are ready to open up the region to non-Indian bidders due to the uncertainty facing the tribe's plan. The state is already in litigation over the tribal provisions of H.3702 and approval of the land-into-trust application is likely to spawn more lawsuits. Given the landscape, the commission plans to vote April 18 on whether to solicit other bids for southeastern Massachusetts. Chairman Stephen Crosby said the tribe could submit a bid. "All these choices are lousy, but among lousy choices, the tribe has more options than anybody else," Crosby said at the commission's meeting on Thursday, The Cape Cod Times reported. Crosby said the southeastern Massachusetts bid could be awarded by the end of 2014. Bids for casinos in two other regions of the state are expected in early 2014. Get the Story:
Tribe's casino bid faces new obstacle (The Cape Cod Times 4/5)
Commission moves closer to allowing commercial casino bids in region (The Taunton Daily Gazette 4/5)
Mass. gaming panel may lift casino license freeze (The Boston Globe 4/5)
Panel may let others trump tribe (The Boston Herald 4/5)
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