Brockton Casino Developers Make Pitch To Gaming Commission

Mass Gaming and Entertainment, the group that seeks to build a casino in Brockton, made their presentation to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday.

One issue that they addressed was the proposed tribal casino in Taunton.

Lawyers for the company said that even though the bureau of indian affairs announced that they will allow the Mashpee Wamapanoag Tribe to take the Land into Trust numerous obstacles could remain and as cases like Carcieri v. Salazar demonstrate, it could be decades before those issues are resolved.

However, the company's CEO Neil Bluhm said that even if the tribe were able to build a Taunton casino he's confident that their proposed $677.5 million Brockton casino would still be profitiable.

What's more Bluhn argued that the wampanoag tribe could actually benefit from a brockton casino because they wouldn't have to pay state taxes.

"If they don't pay 17 percent taxes if we're open, their revenue will go down, but we think the revenue, the lower volume and the no taxes and the expenses would be lower, because you don't have as much volume, will offset the loss of business, so they will still be a successful casino," said Bluhm.

Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter also addressed the commission saying that the 10 millions dollars upfront promised to city as part of the host community agreement and the roughly 12 million a year in casino revenues could address some major infrastructure needs including repairs to the high school.

Carpenter also said the casino would be an economic boost to a city that's trying to revitalize itself and overcome high unemployment.

"Our unemployment rate in the City of Brockton runs at about 150 percent of the statewide average, we need the jobs," said Carpenter.

Mass Gaming and Entertainment also argued that even with a Taunton and Brockton casino the state would be able to collect an estimated $40 million in annual revenues.