"Don't make the mistake of thinking the Fall River casino is a done deal — far from it. Mayor Will Flanagan, the Mashpee Wampanoags and their investors might know what they want, but pesky things like state laws and a U.S. Supreme Court decision stand in the way.

No matter what the plan, there are many unknowns.

For Fall River, a casino may never come to fruition. As long as the Supreme Court decision remains in place barring the Mashpee Wampanoags from taking land into trust, the casino will hinge on winning a state license. House Speaker Robert DeLeo supports giving only two, one of which would almost certainly go to the Boston area. Fall River can't necessarily count on being No. 2.

In addition, a state law that governed Fall River's acquisition of the land reportedly prohibits its use for casino gambling. The law could be hard to change.

The news about Fall River's agreement with the Wampanoags and their investors moves a piece on the chess board, but no SouthCoast casino proponent can claim a deal is close to done."

Get the Story:
OUR VIEW: Wanted to trade: Casino for biotech (South Coast Today 5/19)

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