Massachusetts gambling commission releases applications for casino developments, wants something special from bidders
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on June 18, 2013
BOSTON - The chairman of the state's gaming commission said he will be looking for "the wow factor" when applicants for casino resorts and the state's slot parlor submit their bids this year.
During an interview at the Boston offices of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, chairman Stephen P. Crosby also said the five-member commission is planning to issue the first two casino resort licenses in late March or early April, a little later than the commission's initial target of Feb. 27.
"The wow factor is ... what is your real differentiator?" Crosby said. "What makes this special? How is this different from other ones?"
For example, Crosby said, applicants should show how they will "go above and beyond" in attracting customers from other states or in promoting racial diversity in hiring, contracting for goods and services and in its culture.
The commission on Monday released a 236-page application for potential developers of three casino resorts and the single slot parlor allowed in the state's gaming law.
Crosby said the application seeks information in five areas including building and site design, finance, mitigation, economic development and the fifth category he calls "the wow factor."
"Those are basics. Those are core basics," Crosby said of the first four areas. "Everybody is going to have great buildings. Everybody better take care of traffic problems. Everybody is going to generate jobs. They are all moving towards the same kind of numbers of capital investment."
"Our legislation calls .... for destinations resorts," he said. "That has a meaning -- destination resorts. What do you do above and beyond just your casino hall? That's what we are looking for."
Crosby said the most significant criteria for applicants will be the physical nature and quality of the facility itself, the number of jobs to be generated, the revenue for the state and the economic impact on the region.
The commission established a deadline of Dec. 31 for applicants of casino resorts in the eastern and western regions to submit applications, and an Oct. 4 deadline for slots parlor bidders.
The commission is currently working on bids for the first phase of the application process, which includes background checks on the finances and ethics of 11 companies, key employees and company officers, including four bidding for the slot parlor license. Each company submitted a non refundable $400,000 fee and application for phase one by a Jan. 15 deadline.
The commission is planning to complete background checks on slot parlor bidders by the end of this month and on applicants for casino resorts by the end of August or September.
Companies that pass the background checks can proceed to the second phase and submit detailed development proposals for the projects they want to construct.
During this second phase of the bidding process, Crosby said each commissioner will take the lead on reviewing a category of the bid. Crosby will oversee the open-ended "wow factor" category.
Bruce Stebbins will head up a team analyzing economic development; Gayle Cameron, mitigation, or plans to offset the effects of casinos; James F. McHugh, site and building design; and Enrique Zuniga, finances.
Each bidder for a resort or slots license will be rated "good, better or best" in each of the five categories, Crosby said.
For the Dec. 31 deadline, the commission will be weighing three bids for the lone casino license in Western Massachusetts, including MGM Resorts in Springfield, the Mohegan Sun in Palmer and Hard Rock International for West Springfield, and three bids for the license for the Boston area, including Suffolk Downs in Boston, in partnership with Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts in Everett and Foxwoods in Milford.
The commission will also be seeking bids for a commercial casino-resort license in the southeast part of the state, but those bids will be considered under a different schedule.
Crosby said it is "pretty firm" that the commission will award a casino resort license by April. He said the commission received requests for some extra time from some communities located near a municipality where a casino would be situated. Those "surrounding communities" must also go through a process to negotiate agreements with casinos.
Crosby said he is proud of the commission's 236-page application, calling it a great document. He said the application incorporates criteria from the law and criteria from the commission, regional planning agencies, surrounding communities and a host of other groups.
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/06/massachusetts_gambling_commiss.html
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