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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has released the Phase 2 application for resort casino or slots parlor applicants that successfully pass the Phase 1 background investigations that are currently under way.
According to a statement from Gaming Commissioner Bruce Stebbins, the 236-page application consists of more than 200 questions designed to address five key evaluation criteria in a competitive application process:
• General overview: What would make the project unique within the industry and as a destination, positively impacting the state and the state’s brand?
• Finance: Will the project meet estimated revenue projections and does the applicant have financing to complete the project?
• Economic development: How does the project positively impact existing area tourist attractions, support regional small businesses and create valuable employment opportunities?
• Building and site design: Will the facility meet energy efficiency requirements, feature a design that integrates well with the surrounding community, and meet permitting requirements?
• Mitigation: How does the applicant plan to mitigate traffic problems, problem gambling, impacts on the Massachusetts State Lottery, and any problems with host or surrounding communities?
The application “contains requirements written into the law as well as criteria approved by the commission to make sure that these projects are done right, meet the promises provided by the application, have a positive impact on the Massachusetts economy, and enhance the state’s revenues,” Stebbins said.
The Gaming Commission has also released an updated timeline for awarding the state’s Region A (Greater Boston) and Region B (Western Massachusetts) Category 1 resort casino licenses as well as the Category 2 slots parlor license.
The Region A and B resort casino licenses will be awarded by April 2014, and the slots parlor license will be issued between December 2013 and February 2014, with the timing dependent upon whether there are unresolved surrounding community or affected live entertainment venue issues.
Successful Phase 2 applicants must pay the state’s licensing fee within 30 days of their selection. The fee is $85 million for resort casino licenses and $25 million for the single slots parlor license.
Phase 1 applications for the resort casino license in Region C (Southeastern Massachusetts) are due by Sept. 30. In April, the commission voted to open Region C to commercial resort casino applications. A final decision on whether to grant a commercial license, however, will depend upon the status of negotiations to establish a tribal resort casino within the region by the end of the commercial application process.