Connecticut | Regulation

Mohegan Tribe awaits ruling on new Massachusetts gaming bid

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

The Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut will have to wait another week for an answer on its new commercial casino bid in Massachusetts.

The tribe joined the Suffolk Downs project in the eastern part of the state after voters rejected the $1 billion Mohegan Sun Palmer in western Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, however, said it will continue to examine the arrangement due to significant changes made to the original proposal following the addition of the tribe.

H.3702, the Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act, authorized casinos in three regions of the state. So far, only one bidder has survived in the western region where the Mohegans were rejected.

The Suffolk Downs project and another one involving Wynn Resorts are still in the running for the eastern region. The commission expects to award the licenses for both regions in early 2014.

The third casino, in southeastern Massachusetts, is reserved for a "federally recognized tribe" as stated in H.3702. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is pursuing the casino but a non-Indian developer also wants a shot.

Get the Story:
State casino board delays vote on Suffolk Downs’ Revere plans (The Boston Herald 12/3)
Massachusetts Gaming Commission punts again on Revere Suffolk Downs casino project, plans to rule next week (MassLive.Com 12/3)
No decision on Revere only casino (WWLP 12/3)
Revere OKs Mohegan casino bid (The Boston Herald 12/3)
Mashpee Wampanoag poses $500 million question (The Cape Cod Times 12/3)