The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is to hold one last public hearing on the proposed construction of a $677-million casino resort at the Brockton Fairgrounds before it announces its decision whether it would grant the project the necessary casino license.
All five commissioners are to meet with Brockton residents today, March 28, at 4 pm local time. The public debate is expected to be quite heated as the casino proposal is known to have both staunch opponents and supporters. The state gambling regulator said that one of the main things that it would take into consideration when making its final decision on the project’s future would be whether it has met and would meet enough public support.
So far, Brockton officials have been among the casino’s steadiest proponents. For instance, Timothy Cruise, President of the City Council, told media that that the gambling complex would be a major economic uplift for a region that badly needs a boost. Mr. Cruise also said that apart from the general opposition to the provision of gambling options in the city, people have also voiced concerns for the potential increase in traffic once the casino is operational. Aside from that, the official pointed out that there are no other major public complaints regarding the project.
According to Mr. Cruise, the construction of the hotel and casino resort would probably be Brockton’s last best chance to be moved forward. He explained that it is not just about the money that the city will get in the short term but also about Brockton having its image improved.
However, a group of opponents, named Stand UP for Brockton, has lobbied against the project since it was announced in the spring of 2015. According to representatives, the proposed location for the casino is highly unsuitable, given the fact that there is a school nearby. They also pointed out that the potential establishment of two casinos within 20 miles from each other would not be a good thing for the region.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, which has long been planning to build a gambling venue in Taunton, announced that it would finally break ground on the project in April. The tribe was granted land in trust, following a decision by the US Department of the Interior from last year. However, that same decision is now challenged in federal court by Mass Gaming & Entertainment, the developer behind the Brockton project.
Thus, apart from public support, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission will also have to consider whether the market will get saturated, in case both gambling venues open doors. Mass Gaming & Entertainment claimed that without a Taunton casino, it could annually generate $379 million in revenue. However, if the tribal casino is launched, the Brockton casino could generate an annual revenue of up to $316 million.
According to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, its casino would annually generate up to $365 million with the Brockton casino operating nearby. The latter gambling venue would generate $263 million per year in that case. Without a casino in Brockton, the Taunton facility would probably report full-year revenue of up to $415 million.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will also take into consideration the fact that Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s land-in-trust status has been challenged by the Brockton casino developer as well as by Taunton residents numerous times. Following the latest court filing, the tribal project could be upheld for more than a decade, waiting for a ruling.
As mentioned above, the Monday meeting will be the last one where Brockton residents and officials as well as representatives for Mass Gaming & Entertainment will be allowed to voice their opinion on the proposed project. After that, the state gambling regulator will have between 30 to 90 days to announce its final decision. Many believe than one will be made towards the end of April.
