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Massachusetts Gaming Commission Looks For Local Opinion Regarding Southeast Gambling Project
March 7, 2020 TamaraTam
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) is wondering whether to open the application process for a new casino and now are looking for a public opinion on the matter. The innovative casino project is planned for southeastern Massachusetts and the Commission wants to know whether the public s the idea for that location. In this region there are Bristol, Plymouth, Nantucket, Dukes and Barnstable counties. Local citizens have a deadline of March 16 to express their opinion.
More About Idea
The Massachusetts Gaming Authority has also insisted on input on business-related questions around the Massachusetts gaming market, including the impact of the project to the Region C and the entire area. The examination should be provided by market research firms.
According to the observation of MGC Commissioner Enrique Zuniga:
“We are generally targeting questions to understand more about the viability of the market, especially in the context of prior market studies and current results We want to see how likely it is that there could be a good proposal or a good viable license in that region.”
Situation in Massachusetts
Now, the casino situation in Massachusetts is very favorable. Most of the local venues are experiencing an increase in gambling revenues including MGM Springfield casino and Penn National’s Plainridge Park. In the first month of 2020, MGM Springfield’s income increased $1.65 million from December’s $20.6 million, and Plainridge Park recorded a $900,000 surge to $11 million.
Regarding Region C of Massachusetts, this is the second time that the area is being considered for a casino. Looking back in 2016, MGC was against the idea of Mass. Gaming and Entertainment developing a venue at Brockton Fairgrounds in Plymouth County.
At that time, Zuniga clarified that the casino project was dispelled because of the concern that a Brockton Casino would affect the position of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s First Light Resort and Casino in Taunton. He said:
“The prospect of the tribe eventually getting a casino in Taunton was going to have an end result in which we would have not one, but two casinos from that region, with the tribe paying zero percent in taxes to the state.”
After the Department of Interior decided to drop the idea of giving the Mashpee Wampanoag land in trust where the Taunton casino was planned, the southeast Massachusetts casino is no longer an issue. Zuniga added:
“This is effectively what we are trying to determine at this point through public responses is whether we should take another look at it.”
Source:
“Massachusetts Gaming Commission seeking public input on southeast casino”, calvinayre.com, February 27, 2020.
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I think that a southeast Massachusetts casino will be a great addition for local citizens and gambling fans. Looking forward to the finalization of the project!