Column: Time for Mohegan Tribe to show its hand over casino

Steve Wynn walked away with the biggest jackpot in Massachusetts gaming. He blew into town on his jet, flashing an unnaturally white smile, showing that he can play the insider game better than the locals.

Suffolk Downs and Mohegan Sun may have had former House speaker Charlie Flaherty, former Deval Patrick chief of staff Doug Rubin, and ex-attorney general Tom Reilly doing their bidding. But Wynn built his own team with the best that money can buy — former Governor Bill Weld and ML Strategies CEO and ex-Massport honcho Steve Tocco.

Perhaps most remarkably, Mr. Vegas showed he didn’t need to cozy up to any mayor of Boston to get his way. My, have times changed.

The racetrack’s partner, Mohegan Sun, will live another day with its casino in Connecticut. The question now is whether the tribe, which supported the gambling legislation in Massachusetts, will switch sides and fight for the repeal question on the November ballot. When I spoke with Mohegan CEO Mitchell Etess last month, he told me he couldn’t think past the licensing process. Tick-tock, Mitchell, time to see your hand.

Gambling can be a winner-take-all game, and Wynn is ready to cash in his chips."