Remember the Bee Gees before the disco craze? They started out with some great mellow rock. Were they actually seeing into the future of gambling in the Bay state, too?
Of course not - I just like the song. But it does seem Mass Casino news is heating up on a daily basis. So here are some news briefs to get everyone up-to-date:
- Late March - Gov. Deval Patrick is calling for swift ratification by the Legislature of a revised casino compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe that would provide the state with 17 percent of gambling revenues from a proposed tribal casino in Taunton.
- Then, The Massachusetts Gaming Commission held a hearing at Bristol Community College in Fall River on whether the panel should seek bids for a commercial casino in the southeast region. Under the state's 2011 casino law, the Mashpee Wampanoag have exclusive rights for a casino in the region, but the commission also must consider bids for a commercial casino if the panel decides the U.S. Department of the Interior will not approve land in trust for a tribal casino.
- March 27th - U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III was found saying, "My position on this has been the same from the start: it should be up to the community. In Taunton, also in my district, the proposal by the Wampanoags is overwhelming supported by the town, so I'm happy to support their efforts. I won't back any proposal until a developer lays out a plan and earns the support of the community. I've been watching the Milford process closely and will continue to do so." There is a question about his support for an exit off a federal highway (I-495) to a private casino. Over 1,900 constituents had signed a petition against the casino and hundreds crowded into the Milford Selectmen's meeting room on March 18 to protest the casino.
- March 29th - The Greater Springfield Branch of the NAACP is recommending MGM Resorts International and its $850-million proposal for casino on the South End in the city's gaming sweepstakes.
- At the same time - Worcester became a serious contender for the Commonwealth's sole slots-parlor license Mass Gaming and LLC is looking to build a $200 million facility on the Wyman-Gordon property on Madison Street. It would include 1,250 slot machines, the maximum allowed by state law. In addition, Cambridge-based hotel developer Richard L. Friedman of Carpenter and Company has plans to build a full service hotel, with 150 to 200 rooms, to the tune of $40 million.
- Then, an unplanned snafu for Springfield Licensees? A planned overhaul of an elevated section of Interstate 91 in Springfield is raising questions about access to two proposed downtown casinos. Stephen P. Crosby, chairman of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said traffic plans will be a major factor when awarding licenses.
Update #2 will continue tomorrow with "Sun" Sunday. But, that's all for now.
Binbin
No comments:
Post a Comment