Patrick Turning To Indian Compact For Casino In Massachusetts

Governor Deval Patrick tried to convince members of the legislature in Massachusetts that casino gambling was the future. He gave them a strong plan detailing how much money casino gambling would bring to the state.

The plan was shot down by legislators in the state, and now Patrick has moved on to plan B. He claims that his staff is now ready to negotiate a compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe that would bring casino gambling to Massachusetts.

Leaders of the tribe had promised that once Patrick's plan was defeated, they would seek the casino they desire under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Should they gain the rights to the casino through the Act, the state would receive nothing from the tribe.

The same situation happened last year in Florida. The Seminole Indians were planning to expand their casino options thanks to new laws enacted by the state. Instead, Governor Charlie Crist negotiated a compact with the tribe that allowed them to also offer blackjack and baccarat, plus Vegas style slots.

That compact is being challenged in court while the Seminoles prepare to unveil the new table games in the next week. Should a compact be reached between Patrick and the Mashpee tribe, a similar court battle to that in Florida could occur.

If agreed upon, the compact would bring a casino to a 539 acre piece of land in the southeastern Massachusetts town of Middleborough. The compact could call for the tribe to give the state in the range of twenty five percent of the revenue generated.

June 10, 2008
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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