Suffolk Downs files Massachusetts casino application

Published: Friday, August 10, 2012

By The Associated Press

BOSTON — An East Boston horse track has formally entered the running for one of the state's three casino licenses after filing an application fee and form with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Suffolk Downs announced Friday that it had submitted a $400,000 non-refundable application fee with the commission to begin the formal process of earning a gaming license.

In June, the race track unveiled plans for a $1 billion Caesars-brand destination resort that includes a hotel, restaurants, retail shops and an entertainment venue, in addition to a casino.

Gov. Deval Patrick has signed a compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe allowing them exclusive rights to develop a resort casino in southeastern Massachusetts. The gaming commission will award casino licenses in two other geographical regions of the state and a slots parlor license.

On Thursday, the first day the commission began accepting application fees, Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville wrote out a check for its $400,000 nonrefundable application fee to the commission, along with a two-page certification form and some supporting documents, according to Elaine B. Driscoll, director of communications for the commission. The payment makes a company an official applicant, shows its local community that it is serious and allows it to meet with state agencies to discuss permits.

The commission plans to use the application fee to pay the costs of hiring a private firm to investigate the finances and ethics of the company, its affiliates and close associates.

Also, a minimum of $50,000 of the fee will be used to reimburse municipalities that would host a casino or would surround a casino located in an adjacent community. The $50,000, which would be a total for host and surrounding communities for one project, will help pay for the cost of determining the impact of the company’s proposed development and for negotiating agreements.

Plainridge, which offers live harness racing in the southeast part of the state, is applying for a sole license for a slot parlor, which can have up to 1,250 slot machines.

Companies still have plenty of time to pay the fee and file preliminary applications, which will be much more extensive than just the two-page certification form. No deadline has been set yet to file preliminary applications, but it may not be until the end of the year.

The Republican Newsroom reports were included in this story

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/08/suffolk_downs_files_massachuse.html