Massachusetts to open casino. Poker room?

Patcho · #1 05-24-2007, 11:15 AM

GOGOGOGOGOGGOGOGOOO

www.boston.com

Treasurer calls casino plan "realistic"

By Andrea Estes, Globe Staff

State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill outlined a plan today for a state-regulated casino to preempt the Mashpee Wampanoags that he said could bring more money to cities and towns than the roughly $900 million in local aid raised each year by the lottery.

Cahill described a first-class resort regulated by a gaming commission that could be developed faster than an Indian-run casino, which he said would drain money from the lottery and provide the state only a limited amount of revenue that was subject to negotiations with the tribe.

"I would argue if we act now, before we are forced to under the Indian gaming act, we can extract significantly more revenue than Connecticut," Cahill told a crowd of 150 people at a breakfast for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce at the InterContinental hotel in Boston.

The proposal was outlined in today's Globe. The Mashpee Wampanoags, who are celebrating their official recognition by the federal government, have announced plans to open a casino by 2010, but must first go through the time-consuming process of putting land into federal trust.

"We here in New England have always been embarrassed by our per capita spending on gaming," Cahill said today. "I propose we stop apologizing and take advantage of it."

HSB · #2 05-24-2007, 11:50 AM

It's hard to imagine there wouldn't be some kind of poker room. Affiliate with Harrahs, run WSOP satellites...get a marketing advantage on Foxwoods.

Any mention of where it would go?

signal · #3 05-24-2007, 11:56 AM

Some one at FW yesterday was saying that he heard about this Mass casino proposal too. From what he heard the casino would be in Middleboro. This is south of Brockton off of 495.

I don't know how valid his statement is, however.

jlzinck · #4 05-24-2007, 12:05 PM

The Wompanoags are looking at Middleboro and New Bedford [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img], with Middleboro looking more viable.

Bob Kraft is building on his land near the football stadium.

If there are no NFL problems that are would be great. Right off 95 and 495.

It will be 2012-2014 before you see anything from teh state side though. Too many people to pay off to get it done sooner

Diana Ross Fan · #5 05-24-2007, 12:09 PM

I don't think it would take that long. But the casino will probably go up before they add a poker room. They want slots I presume.

The Poker community should start lobbying NOW. Does anyone have an email in the tribe we can write to? I will look for it.

Obviously a few of us writing won't make a difference, but if they start receiving 3 or 4 emails a day for the next couple months, then they will have to listen.

AngusThermopyle · #6 05-24-2007, 12:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Obviously a few of us writing won't make a difference, but if they start receiving 3 or 4 emails a day for the next couple months, then they will have to listen.

[/ QUOTE ]

Joking?

Show them that X sq ft of floorspace will generate more profit as a poker room than as slots or as table games or as a Starbucks, then they will listen.

youtalkfunny · #7 05-24-2007, 05:12 PM

Will you guys stop?

Proposals for Massachusetts casinos have been floated annually since the day Foxwoods opened, and the parking lot was flooded with cars sporting Massachusetts license plates.

These proposals, every single one of them, have been shot down by the state government. Why? Because the state government runs the Massachusetts lottery, the most successful lottery (per capita) in the nation.

The state OWNS all the legal gambling. Whenever it is asked to give approval to the idea of a competitor moving into the market, it has a 100% track record of saying "no".

They will say no again.

Forget seeing a casino in Massachusetts by "2012-2014", let alone one with a poker room.

ThomasPHoolery · #8 05-24-2007, 06:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Will you guys stop?

Proposals for Massachusetts casinos have been floated annually since the day Foxwoods opened, and the parking lot was flooded with cars sporting Massachusetts license plates.

These proposals, every single one of them, have been shot down by the state government. Why? Because the state government runs the Massachusetts lottery, the most successful lottery (per capita) in the nation.

The state OWNS all the legal gambling. Whenever it is asked to give approval to the idea of a competitor moving into the market, it has a 100% track record of saying "no".

They will say no again.

Forget seeing a casino in Massachusetts by "2012-2014", let alone one with a poker room.

[/ QUOTE ]

HUGE difference here. This proposal was put forward by Tim Cahill, who runs the Lottery. MA Lottery sales are completely flat, there is no chance for growth (or very very little), and Cahill is putting his political will behind it. In addition, Senate Prez has already said he's in favor, and Patrick has been non-committal, but leaning to looking at it as a relevant option. The state Treasurer and Lottery Executive Director have always been the biggest hurdles. They're both on board this time. This has a very good chance of getting done.

kdog · #9 05-24-2007, 09:15 PM

YTF the Wampanoags are in a situation similar to what the Pequots faced before opening Foxwoods. They have been recognized as a tribe by the federal government and Massachusetts allows various forms of charity gambling. They don't need the states approval to open a casino offering the same and have stated so. Now to get slots....

Patcho · #10 05-25-2007, 09:55 AM

BUMP.

www.boston.com

Some interesting comments today in the Globe.

"The real possibility exists that the Indians will have some kind of a casino soon," Morrissey (Senator Michael Morrissey) said. "Timmy [Cahill] has seen the light. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. There are a number of people -- and I'm one of them -- who think that you need to exhaust every revenue option before you consider raising taxes. We're running out of other options."