Gaming Commission not yet ready to trump Mashpee Wampanoag plans
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission isn't ready yet to trump the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's dream of opening a $500 million Indian casino in Taunton.
The commission will give Gov. Deval Patrick and tribe leaders time to renegotiate the compact rejected Friday by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, said Chairman Stephen Crosby during the commission's meeting Tuesday streamed over the Internet.
"Our position is to sit and wait until this works itself out," Crosby said.
Ultimately, the commission has the authority to pull the plug on the tribe's casino dreams and put the Southeastern Massachusetts license out to competitive bid. The state legislation gives the commission the role of deciding whether the tribe has the ability to get its federal land approvals completed.
None of the other commission members commented on the bureau's decision to reject the compact, though a consultant did say earlier in the meeting that it prompted him to revise a draft of the commission's strategic plan. That document is not yet public, commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said.
The tribal-state compact would have paid the state 21.5 percent of its gross gambling revenue, but the federal agency found the tribe wasn't getting enough in concessions from the state to warrant paying that much in revenue, among other issues.
Spokesmen for both the tribe and state said no talks have been scheduled yet between the tribe and governor's legal teams, though both sides have vowed to work out a new agreement.
Any new deal would require Legislative approval, which means it will likely be 2013 before a new compact heads back to the bureau. The Senate has no formal sessions planned through the end of the year and a single senator can block a formal session being called, Senate President Therese Murray told the Times on Monday.
Senators opposed to casinos used that tactic in 2010 to block an amended casino bill proposed by Patrick — a move that delayed the Expanded Gaming Act by a full year.
In other business Tuesday, the commission voted to begin accepting preliminary applications from developers interested in bidding on the state's lone slot parlor today and from casino developers on Friday. Two race tracks in Southeastern Massachusetts — one in Raynham and one in Plainville — are expected to seek the slot parlor license.
The applicants will undergo review of their finances and backgrounds as part of a preliminary screening of their eligibility to bid on a casino license.
Meanwhile, commissioners also approved a 17 percent raise for casino consultants Spectrum Gaming and Michael & Carroll, who have helped develop the commission's strategic plan and regulations.
The contract for the consultants was extended through the end of June for $73,000 per month. Crosby said the two companies are reliable and have demonstrated "high integrity."
Commissioners also voted unanimously to hire John Ziemba, a lawyer with extensive experience at various state agencies, as ombudsman. Ziemba, who told commissioners he has some background experience with Indian gaming, will be the main point of contact for communities hosting or surrounding a proposed casino site. He will also help developers through the tangle of state government.
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