Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is seeking public comment on its draft regulations governing the first phase of the casino application and licensing process.
The regulations outline the procedure for pre-qualifying for a casino or slots license based on suitability.
The two-phase application process is designed to expedite licensing by ensuring that only “suitable” applicants proceed to the second stage with detailed development proposals.
The regulations, and the procedure for submitting comment, is available at www.mass.gov/gaming.
After issuing a preliminary licensing schedule last month, the commission has also begun accepting letters of intent as well as application fee deposits of $400,000 from developers seeking a casino or slots license.
To date, Suffolk Downs in Boston has submitted a letter of intent and a deposit for a casino license, and the Plainridge Racecourse of Plainville has submitted a letter of intent and a fee deposit for a slots license.
The Commission will not accept letters of intent for a casino license in Region C, which includes southeastern Massachusetts and is designated as the location for a tribal casino.
In July, the legislature approved and Gov. Deval Patrick signed a compact negotiated by the governor and the Mashpee Wampanoag for a tribal casino in the city of Taunton. Under the compact, the tribe would forward to the state 21.5 percent of gross gaming revenue, and the state would use this revenue in a manner that is consistent with the processes relevant to commercial casinos under the state’s expanded gaming act. This would include allocating a portion of the revenue for community mitigation.
The compact is now before the U.S. Department of the Interior for final approval.
The Gaming Commission held its fifth public education forum in Springfield on Aug. 8. The forum focused on issues of concern to western Massachusetts and included panels on community mitigation, tourism and the hospitality industry, and career opportunities in gaming for residents.
The Gaming Commission is charged with creating a transparent and participatory process to implement the state’s 2011 gaming legislation, which authorized the development of up to three casinos and one slot parlor in the state.