Gambling regulators in Massachusetts are hoping to choose a winning casino proposal for Greater Boston and award a license by Sept. 12.
The two competing entries are Mohegan Sun Massachusetts’ $1.3 billion plan for a resort casino at Suffolk Downs in Revere and Wynn Resorts’ proposal for a $1.6 billion resort casino in Everett.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday discussed its process to evaluate the two plans, which starts with daily meetings on Sept. 8. The plan is to wrap up by Sept. 12, but the commission’s review could take longer.
Even after the Gaming Commission decides a winner, there’s still the possibility that Massachusetts’ casino legislation passed by legislators in 2011 could be repealed by voters on Nov. 4.
A successful petition drive led to a ballot question that could reverse the 2011 legislation. If voters strike own the casino law, it would nullify years of planning and campaigning by casino companies that have spent untold millions of dollars trying to win the support of residents while showing off glitzy plans.
The commission will review building and site designs, and plans for economic development, among other aspects. The commission may add conditions to the plans, which the applicants must consider and respond to.
Gaming Commissioner James F. McHugh said, thematically, there are four basic elements to the process: Reports and presentations; solicitation of concerns about material inaccuracies in the proposal; deliberations on possible conditions; and the awarding of the license.
“This is overall a process in the design to be both transparent and fair …,” McHugh said.
McHugh is presiding over the Greater Boston license process. State Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen P. Crosby recused himself in May of any decision related to the Greater Boston license following months of media reports about his business relationship with one of the landowners in Everett, where Wynn Resorts wants to build a casino. Separately, there were news reports of Crosby’s attending a party at Suffolk Downs where the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority wants to build a casino.
In Springfield, MGM Resorts International is moving forward with its plan to build an $800 million casino the heart of downtown. A consultant hired by MGM Resorts, Davenport Cos. President Chuck Irving, said MGM will likely hire a general contractor in November after the election.
To make room for the casino, some buildings will be demolished. MGM has to get agreements on about 90 tax parcels to move the project forward. MGM had plans to preserve the façade of 95 State St., which has an art deco interior, but now the casino company is hoping to preserve the entire building, according to MGM consultants and staff. MGM has been meeting regularly with the Springfield Historical Commission, Irving said.
Construction is expected to take 30 months in Springfield, and the parking garage will be built first, Irving said.
Crosby asked Irving what MGM might be doing now if there wasn’t the threat of a repeal in the November election.
“Right now we would be preparing the pad for the parking garage, meaning we would be selectively taking down specific buildings,” Irving said.
Open all references in tabs: [1 – 3]