The Massachusetts gaming market, which has one casino legislatively set aside for a recognized Indian tribe, now suddenly has two tribes competing for the license.
For several years, the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe has been the most visible and vocal tribe pursuing a casino, first in Middleboro, later Fall River, and last month at its latest proposed location, at Taunton.
However, last month the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) requested that Governor Deval Patrick enter into formal compact negotiations for a resort that the tribe proposes to build at Fall River.
Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, who two years ago supported the attempt by the Mashpees to build a casino in his town, acknowledged being in talks with the Aquinnahs. “The Aquinnah tribe is committed to building in Fall River,” said Flanagan.
The tribe has financial backers, and is prepared to compete with the Mashpees for the tribal license set aside by state law. “They will meet with me face to face,” he said, according to the Boston Herald.
The Aquinnah tribe has been interested in Fall River since 2010, when the city was negotiating to sell the tribe some redevelopment land. Tribal Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais told reporters last month, “Yesterday we requested that Governor Patrick enter into formal gaming compact negotiations with the tribe, pursuant to state and federal law.” So far, the tribe has not yet specified what parcel it is interested in.
State law gives a federally recognized tribe until July 31 to hold a host city referendum in the southeastern gaming zone, have an option on land, and have a negotiated gaming compact with the state. If no tribe meets the July 31 deadline, the license is open for bidding by other potential developers in that part of the state.
The entry of the Martha’s Vineyard-based Aquinnah into the casino sweepstakes greatly complicates things, since most state officials agree that the tribe doesn’t have the same federal standing regarding a casino that the Mashpees possess. They believe that the tribe relinquished the right to build a casino when it was federally recognized in 1987.
