On March 30th, 2008, Governor Deval Patrick's move to allow casino facilities in the state of Massachusetts suffered a serious setback in the state House, but located in the south of the State House the supporters of the pro-casino movement in Middleborough are happy. Both local and regional officials in Southeastern Massachusetts and a known gaming specialist commented that only time will tell when gaming will gain a place in Massachusetts.
Clyde Barrow, the director of the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth said that the gaming proposal is not yet dead. The governor's proposal states the plan to construct three casino facilities in the state. It was shut down in the House on March 20th, 2008 by a vote of one hundred eight to forty-six. In Middleborough, the officials are pushing through with their plans to build a casino owned and operated by the Mashpee Tribe.
Middleborough Selectman Adam Bond said that their plans are moving up with no problem at all and if the state wants to have a piece of the tribe's earnings, they have to make a gambling compact with the Mashpee tribe.
Selectman Bond also said that it does make any difference if whether the tribe will offer class 2 or class 3 games because the town will still get its share. Compared with a casino that is classified as a class 3 facility, a class 2 casino facility does not offer standard slot machines and casino table games like blackjack and craps. It makes its revenue from other games of luck. Director of the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District, Stephen Smith said that the Mashpee Tribe will probably receive the chance to construct their casino.
The tribe has been steadily making plans to construct a casino on 500 acres of land in Middleborough, waiting for federal approval. The head of the Mashpee Tribe, Shawn Hendricks commented that they have no interest in bidding in one of the casino proposal of Governor Patrick. Barrow said that he has learned of a discussion of a vote on casinos being placed on state voters by fall, through the backing of labor and financial organizations.
Barrow commented that the governor could place a clause on the new proposal for placing a limit on the video lottery machines. This might persuade other racino supporters to join together and push for a stronger casino proposal like state representative David Flynn.
04/22/2008 01:35 PM
Davis Coulter