Opinion: Tribal casino in Massachusetts unlikely without land fix

Tuesday, September 6, 2011  

"As lawmakers on Beacon Hill move closer to ending their decade-long dance with legalizing casino gambling, one unusual aspect of the leadership’s casino bill has been getting plenty of attention. Following a request from Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration, legislative leaders included a provision that would set aside one of the state’s three potential casino slots for a federally-recognized Indian tribe.

The legislation doesn’t name the tribe. But there are only two – the Mashpee Wampanoag and the Aquinnah Wampanoag – in Massachusetts. The Mashpee tribe has been more aggressive recently in trying to line up a casino plan, and can count Malaysian casino syndicate Genting Group as its big financial supporter.

This provision has been criticized by some as a special giveaway to the tribes. Supporters say it’s a smart move because of the inevitability of an Indian casino in Massachusetts.

Actually, both of those arguments are wrong. The legislation only gives a tribe until July 31 of next year to reach an agreement to buy land for a casino and to negotiate a compact with Gov. Deval Patrick or the Legislature. The biggest hurdle for the tribes isn’t negotiating a compact or finding the land – although neither of those actions happen overnight."

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Jon Chesto: Tribal casino remains an unlikely scenario in Massachusetts without change in federal law (The Patriot Ledger 9/6)