The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said on Tuesday that it did not have enough time to review the 152-page lawsuit that the city of Boston filed last week against the gambling regulator and that it did not comply with the state regulations regarding the length and contents of such legal documents.
Boston officials, led by Mayor Martin J. Walsh, argued that the license the commission had granted to Wynn Resorts’ $1.6-billion project for the establishment of a casino resort in Everett had been the product of corrupt practices, which aimed at favoring the gambling operator.
Bonnie McGilpin, spokeswoman for Mayor Walsh, commented that the city administration might eventually seek injunction to block the construction of the property. In addition, she pointed out that the city will remain open to discussions about the impact the launch of a casino in Everett might have on residents.
City officials claimed in the 152-page complaint that back in September 2014, when the state Gaming Commission announced that Wynn Resorts was awarded a casino license, residents of Boston were deprived of their right to cast their vote on the proposed gambling venue.
According to the lawsuit, the Massachusetts gambling regulator made a number of decisions in favor of the Everett project. In addition, it neglected matters such as the criminal history of one of the former proprietors of the site where the multimillion casino is to be located. The city administration also calls for a new licensing process that would exclude the current members of the commission.
Cezar Froelich, a Chicago-based gaming attorney, noted that a permanent injunction is not likely to be issued, but even a temporary one would delay the Wynn project considerably.
Michael Weaver, spokesman for Wynn, refused to comment on the matter.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said at a Tuesday meeting that it had not reviewed the lengthy complaint, as this would take days. In addition, the state gambling regulator described it as “verbose, repetitive, argumentative, and confusing.” Commissioners asked the state judge in charge of the lawsuit to dismiss the 152-page lawsuit as it did not comply with the state requirements for such legal documents to be brief but comprehensive.
As mentioned above, back in September 2014, Wynn Resorts was awarded one of three casino licenses for the opening of a multimillion hotel and casino property in Everett. If completed, the hotel and casino venue is to feature more than 500 hotel rooms, restaurants, convention area, numerous retail options, etc. The casino floor will offer to visitors 3,000 slot machines and 150 table games.
