Indian Gaming Now

Massachusetts

Kathryn Quoted on Compact Politics in Cape Cod Times

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Feb 2 2010
Kathryn's quoted in this Cape Cod Times article on the politics of compact negotiations and tribal-state relations.  In Massachusetts, as the Mashpee Wampanoag continue to pursue Class III gaming, the tribe and the governor are on different sides of another issue -- a wind farm in Nantucket Sound.

A wind farm, of course, is not related to gaming, and under IGRA should not be an issue that enters into compact negotiations.  But politics, unlike law, is not easily compartmentalized into relevant and irrelevant considerations.  Here's what Kathryn said about the possible impact of the tribe's and governor's difference of opinion:

More from Massachusetts

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Jan 29 2010
The Cape Cod Times reports that the Mashpee Wampanoag may be looking at a new community partner for an off-reservation casino: Fall River, a community hard hit by unemployment.

Senate Upset in Massachusetts

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Jan 21 2010
To follow up on our last post, Tuesday's surprise was that Republican Scott Brown was elected to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts.  Brown took 52 percent of the vote in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, an upset over Democrat Martha Coakley.  Brown, a state senator, became known for driving around in a pickup truck and cast himself as the "people's" candidate, especially on issues related to the economy.  The election, of course, speaks to public satisfaction with the Obama administration, but from where we sit, it eventually will speak to the status of tribes and tribal sovereignty in Massachusetts and across the country.

Kathryn Quoted on Massachusetts Senate Race

Posted by Kathryn Rand | Filed under:
Jan 19 2010
Voters in Massachusetts will elect a new senator today to fill the remaining term of Ted Kennedy, which expires in November 2012.  Most commentators have cast the election as about national health care reform, but folks in Massachusetts know that the outcome will affect a host of other issues.  One of those issues is intergovernmental relations with tribes, including Indian gaming.  Here's what Kathryn had to say:

"Typically our officials have known very little about tribes, about the law that relates to tribes, and about good policy that relates to Indian gaming.  Much of the controversy about Indian gaming reflects that lack of understanding." 

Starts and Stops in Massachusetts

Posted by Kathryn and Steve | Filed under:
Sep 18 2008
In early September, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe sent a formal request to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to initiate Class III compact negotiations. The request relates to the Tribe's proposal for a $1 billion resort casino in Middleborough, where the tribe currently is working to have land placed in trust by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Mashpee Wampanoag Casino Plan

Posted by Kathryn and Steve | Filed under:
Apr 11 2008
Now that state-sanctioned casinos are (temporarily) off the table in Massachusetts, the Mashpee have shared a plan for a casino that would operate under IGRA, should the tribe be successful in its efforts to have land taken into trust.

The casino would be located off of Route 44 in Middleboro. At 240,000 square feet, the casino would include a retail area and event center, as well as an attached 1,200 room hotel. An 18-hole golf course would be added later.

Mass. Votes Against Legalizing Casino Gambling, at Least for Now

Posted by Kathryn and Steve | Filed under:
Mar 21 2008
Breaking news:

Instead of approving Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal for three casinos, the state House voted 106-48 to form a commission to study the issue further, effectively killing Patrick's plan for the year. The Mashpee Wampanoag will continue to pursue their land-into-trust application, with plans of opening at least a Class II facility and perhaps negotiating a Class III compact with the state.