The Massachusetts Gaming Commission set an August 31 deadline to accept non-Indian bids for a casino in the southeastern part of the state. The goal is to award a potential license by October 2014, according to news reports. Licenses for other regions in the state are due to be awarded in early 2014. The Expanded Gaming Act authorizes casinos in three regions of Massachusetts. The southeastern region was set aside for "a federally recognized tribe." The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is pursuing the casino so the license may never be awarded. But the law allows the commission to open bidding to non-Indian developers if the tribe doesn't appear to be making progress on its project. The tribe has negotiated a Class III gaming compact for the casino but the agreement hasn't been ratified by the state Legislature. It would also need to be reviewed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The tribe has submitted a land-into-trust application for its casino site in the city of Taunton. The BIA has not made a decision. Get the Story:
Gaming commission sets timetable for local casino (The New Bedford Standard-Times 5/30)
Gaming Commission sets timetable for Southeastern Mass. casino process (State House News Service 5/30)
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