The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe signed a new Class III gaming compact with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) on Wednesday and now it's up to state lawmakers and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to approve the deal. The BIA rejected the first compact due to a high revenue sharing rate. The new deal appears to address the issue by ensuring the tribe gains some form of exclusivity for Class III games. The first level is statewide. The tribe will share 21 percent of gross gaming revenue as long as no other casino is operating in the state. The rate drops to 17 percent once another casinos opens. State law authorizes two other casinos and the licenses are expected to be awarded early next year. The second level of exclusivity is regional. The revenue sharing rate will drop by another 2 percent if a slot machine parlor opens in southeastern Massachusetts. Finally, the compact ends revenue sharing altogether if a non-Indian casino opens in southeastern Massachusetts. That's a plausible scenario, given the hurdles the tribe is facing with the land-into-trust process. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is meeting today to consider whether to open the southeastern region to non-Indian bidders. Get the Story:
Better odds seen for tribe's casino pact (The Cape Cod Times 3/21)
New compact shapes discussion for proposed Taunton casino (The Taunton Daily Gazette 3/21)
Local lawmakers back revised casino pact (The Attleboro Sun Chronicle 3/21)
Mass. gaming board weighs opening Cape casino bid (AP 3/21) Some Opinions:
OUR VIEW: Odds seem stacked against southeastern Mass. casino (The Taunton Daily Gazette 3/21)
Editorial: Speed it along, folks (The Boston Herald 3/21)
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Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reaches new
Class III casino deal (3/20)
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