Tribe Makes Second Push For Massachusetts CasinoMashpee Wampanoag Hoping To Get Land Grant From Federal Government |
|
A tribal group located in Massachusetts is trying again to make the right moves to develop a casino-resort in the state.
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is seeking the exclusive rights to build a casino in the southern region of the state. Commercial firms, such as Wynn Resorts and Caesars Entertainment Corp., are competing for the right to build elsewhere. A 2011 law authorized three Las Vegas-style brick-and-mortar casinos in Massachusetts.
The problem for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is that it doesn’t have the land to build the casino. It needs to get that from the federal government, but the feds are concerned about the tribe not getting a good enough deal in the casino project.
The tribe was already approved once by Massachusetts, last year, along with a tax deal, to build a casino, but it was rejected by those in Washington. Just recently, the Massachusetts House voted in favor of a second deal with the tribe.
The new deal would tax the tribe at 17 percent, which is less than the previous agreement of 21.5 percent. If a commercial casino is built in the southern region as well, the tribe would end up paying nothing to the state. Though, some lawmakers reportedly just want three casinos.
“I think it’s a good deal based on all the circumstances because again, if the tribe gets federal recognition, they could build that casino anyhow and more than likely we’d be getting a lot less than this,” a Massachusetts lawmaker told WWLP.
The tribe is more than willing to give up some of its revenue to the state for the right to build the only casino in the region — and build it quickly. The second deal reportedly heads to the state Senate and then eventually to the federal government for another look.
The first deal called for a $500 million casino-resort in Taunton.
Copyright © 2001-2024
CardPlayer.com. All rights reserved.
