Casino panel in waiting pattern for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

Wednesday, October 17, 2012  

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will wait for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to negotiate a new Class III compact, the chairman of the panel said.

It's not clear when a new deal will emerge. "Our position is to sit and wait until this works itself out," Chairman Stephen Crosby said during a public meeting, The Cape Cod Times reported.

Even if the tribe and Patrick negotiate a new deal quickly, it must be ratified by state lawmakers. The next regular session isn't until 2013 and no formal sessions are expected this year, the paper said.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the first compact that the tribe signed, citing a high revenue sharing rate and other regulatory concerns.

Get the Story:
State's casino commission is in no rush to give away Wampanoag license (The Cape Cod Times 10/17)
Taunton casino proponents say setback not insurmountable (State House News Service 10/17)

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe back to the table on gaming deal (10/16)