Monkey_Brain_Oil t1_j8rzq5z wrote on February 16, 2023 at 3:18 PM

Reply to comment by NickRick in 'Land, heritage and culture protected.' U.S. court sides with Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe by zsreport

I'm not sure if this plan is still in the works, but the securing of land in Taunton was at one time intended to allow opening of a casino, whose revenue would then fund development of a stronger Tribal government, including functions like fish and wildlife management and others.

UltravioletClearance t1_j8s2ufk wrote on February 16, 2023 at 3:38 PM

The whole "casino" thing came about during the Great Recession as a way to create jobs in a struggling region. I do wonder if the plan will get the same level of enthusiasm it got in 2009.

amos106 t1_j8tnse7 wrote on February 16, 2023 at 9:37 PM

It was also supposed to generate traffic for the nearby mall to help it stay open, but that's gone now too.

thetaterman314 t1_j8u9wqd wrote on February 17, 2023 at 12:04 AM

I can confirm that, as of June 2022, the casino plan is still on. I was briefly involved with the project at that time. The plan has changed from the original idea though - now it’s a one-story building instead of a huge hotel tower.

thomastodon01027 t1_j8v8160 wrote on February 17, 2023 at 4:31 AM

That makes a lot of sense. A good deal of research has been done on the existing casinos in MA and one finding is that it’s mostly local/regional patrons who drive there and then drive home. There was a thought at one time that a ton of tourists would come from all around to gamble in MA. What they’ve been more effective at is recapturing the spending of people who would have otherwise traveled out of state to gamble.

NickRick t1_j8s5nm4 wrote on February 16, 2023 at 3:57 PM

The article says part of the fight was to stop the plans of a $1 billion dollar casino. So I would assume that's still in the plans.

1diligentmfer t1_j8sulj0 wrote on February 16, 2023 at 6:37 PM

Alot has changed since the entire concept was voted on, including Covid, several other casinos establishing themselves first, and legalized sports betting. I'm pretty sure there will no longer be a 300 room hotel, concert venue, shopping plaza, and waterpark, and would assume this means a scale back on the casino size as well.

CrocodileTeeth t1_j8sdudq wrote on February 16, 2023 at 4:51 PM

It's full steam ahead. Mass has 1 more casino license to dish out and pretty sure it's going here

NickRick t1_j8sg8oq wrote on February 16, 2023 at 5:06 PM

I know they had right of first refusal when they were giving them out.