Patrick says he would negotiate with tribe over a casino
Says Wampanoag situation being monitored closely
Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday that he is closely monitoring the Mashpee Wampanoags' plans for an Indian casino in Middleborough and would be prepared to negotiate with the tribe if it formally requests a casino pact with the state.
"They have expressed an interest in working with us when the time comes," Patrick said in response to questions from reporters. "But, no, there's no negotiation happening yet."
Patrick lost a bid this year in the Legislature to license three casinos in Massachusetts. With that defeat, the focus for gambling has shifted to the tribe's plans, which have been filed as an application with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. It has previously been disclosed that the state and tribe have engaged in preliminary talks; in coming months they have the potential to become more serious.
The tribe wants to build a $1 billion resort casino on property it owns in Middleborough. Before it can do that, the federal government must approve its application to place the land in a federal trust, a process that can take months or years.
The state could be a partner in the development and get a cut of the proceeds if the tribe signs an agreement with Massachusetts officials and wins approval from the Legislature. The tribe has an incentive to work with the state and sign a compact, because it could offer a full-scale, "class three" casino with table games and Las Vegas-style slot machines, according to Bureau of Indian Affairs rules.
The tribe can proceed on its own after winning federal trust status for the land and the property effectively becomes sovereign territory. But in that case, the tribe would offer only "class two" bingo-style slot machines, which are not as popular with gamblers and not as lucrative for casino operators. The state would probably be shut out of a share of gambling proceeds under that scenario. The tribe and the state could begin negotiations now, but any agreement would not go into effect until the tribe has sovereign land.
A source who has been briefed by the tribe said the Mashpee Wampanoag may decide to ask the state to enter more formal negotiations. "This has always been moving along steadily, and it will all rapidly pick up speed over the next month or two," the source said. "The Legislature will have this before them next year."
Patrick administration officials are meeting with the tribe today to discuss transportation issues around their site as part of the federal and state review of impacts.
Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.
