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City Official Welcomes Tribal Casino

MASSACHUSETTS – As reported by the Boston Globe: "City Councilor George Rotondo wants to put out the welcome mat in Revere for a Cape Cod Indian tribe that soon may be looking for a place to build a casino.

"In anticipation of the Mashpee Wampanoags gaining full federal recognition, Rotondo presented a request at Monday's City Council meeting to amend Revere's land-use ordinance to allow construction of a Class III casino gaming and entertainment complex in the city. He hopes this could facilitate the development of a casino at one of the local racetracks, Suffolk Downs or Wonderland.

"While Rotondo said he wants the ordinance change to be in place to accommodate 'such a regional economic catalyst,' critics of the proposal, including Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino, say no action is necessary at this point.

"…The 1,468-member tribe won preliminary federal recognition last month, triggering a one-year comment period. If the federal recognition stands, the tribe would gain sovereignty and the state would be required to negotiate a compact with the tribe involving gambling rights. Under current state law, the tribe would be allowed to seek land to establish a bingo-style casino, because bingo is legal in Massachusetts. Special state approval would be needed to build a full-scale Class III casino, like Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

"...With slot-machine gambling at the state's racetracks in limbo, Rotondo said, introducing casino gambling at one of the tracks could be the solution to saving hundreds of local jobs…"

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