Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said he was hopeful for approval of a Class III gaming compact with the
Mashpee Wampanoag
Tribe.
Patrick signed the deal in March. It will finally get a hearing next Wednesday in the Massachusetts House.
“My hope is that the tribe will be positioned to move quickly because if they don't we run the risk of there being more than three destination resorts in the whole of the Commonwealth and that was not the intent of the legislation,” Patrick said during his monthly appearance on WGBH.
The first deal that Patrick signed was rejected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs due to concerns about revenue sharing and exclusivity.
The new compact include an option for no revenue sharing.
Patrick said the BIA was consulted about the new deal.
Get the Story:
Committee head said he won't "rubber stamp" revised gaming compact
(State House News Service 5/10)
Related Stories:
Hearing set on Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's
casino compact (5/9)