The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe announced they were breaking ground on a welcome center on 321 acres of land in Taunton, Massachusetts, which could be a precursor to a casino that the small tribe has been attempting to build for well over a decade.
Welcome to First Light Resort & Casino
The welcome center that the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe announced it will be building early this year is an educational facility dedicated to the tribe’s ancestors and culture. Blueprints on the casino that the small tribe of fewer than 3,200 enrolled members plans to build will also be available. It has also been announced there will be slot machines inside the welcome center for visitors to play.
“This project is something everyone—the City of Taunton, residents, and Tribal citizens—has asked for. It’s a place to learn about our history, connect with our culture, and see what’s next for our reservation,” said Mashpee Wampanoag Chairman Brian Weeden. “Our new Welcome Center is just the first of a series of steps towards realizing the First Light resort and entertainment project. This will be a place to preview the benefits of project First Light and see what tribal stewardship of our land looks like,” Weeden added.
However, news of this welcome center had apparently not been relayed to the Taunton city officials, as evidenced by a statement from the mayor’s office, which said, “This weekend, the Tribe informed us that they intend to open a Welcome Center and will be issuing a statement to that effect. We have requested that the Tribe provide an update to the City Council and the community immediately.”
Tax Man Cometh
The Mashpee Wampanoag initially had a deal in place with Malaysian gaming giant Genting, but due to starts and stops with the legal classification of the 321 acres of land that is the site of the gaming facility, that agreement was terminated. The tribe is currently seeking a new partner, such as a top-rated sportsbook, to run the casino and supply the funds necessary to make the dream a reality.
At this juncture, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has three commercial casinos, including:
- Boston Encore in Everett
- Springfield MGM
- Plainridge Casino
There are currently no tribal casinos operating in the Bay State. But before the Mashpee Wampanoag move on with their project, there is a small matter of $2.35 million in back payments owed to the city.
“Despite a host of delays outside the control of the Mashpee Wampanoag Gaming Authority, we are ready to proceed with developing new economic opportunities in the city that we believe will provide a financially solid pathway to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) project,” said Jim Erenzo, CFO of the Mashpee Wampanoag Gaming Authority.
