State Will Not Accept Commercial Casino Proposals For Southeast

The state commission in charge of issuing casino licenses will only consider proposals for two of three casino districts this fall.

Gaming Commission members say the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is on track to develop a casino in Taunton. As a result, no commercial proposals for southeastern Massachusetts will be considered. But the tribe still needs to get federal approval to build the casino.

"At the moment, the tribe is in the position to do what it has the right to do," said Gaming Commission Chairman Steve Crosby. "If it gets the approval now or later, if the compact and goes through the land into trust process, there will not be any commercial license, period."

Some lawmakers worry it could take years for the tribe to get the land in Taunton into a federal trust. It will be up to the commission to decide if the process is taking too long, and whether to open up the bidding to non-tribal developers.