SPRINGFIELD – An educational forum hosted by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) Wednesday revealed there is much work to be done before a casino in the commonwealth is a reality.
About 200 people attended the forum, held at Western New England University’s River Memorial Hall, to listen to speakers discuss mitigation, tourism and the workforce involved in a resort-style casino.
Late last fall, the governor approved legislation allowing three casinos in the commonwealth, at least one of which is to be developed in western Massachusetts.
Westfield City Advancement Officer Jeffrey Daley commended the MGC for hosting the forum, adding that hearing all the work involved in bringing a casino to a community was a little daunting.
“I think it’s a hard pill to swallow for communities being entertained by casino developers,” said Daley. “It was definitely educational.”
Daley said mitigation is a “crucial part” of the process for any community considering hosting a casino, as well as for the surrounding towns. Mitigation is financial compensation, of sorts, to the host and surrounding communities designed to help alleviate any detrimental effects of a casino. For example, a neighboring community with direct highway access could see more traffic and need road or lighting improvements or increased police patrols. Mitigation is the process a community can use to get funding for such things from the casino developer prior to the applicaion.
In April, Penn National Gaming expressed interest in developing a casino in Westfield. However, Daley said there is “nothing new” on that front.
State Sen. Gale Candaras and Sen. Stanley Rosenberg both played important roles in bringing the casino option to the commonwealth and both spoke at the forum. The senators gave an overview of the recent history of casino gaming in Massachusetts.
Candaras recalled the governor hired a consultant, who told her the commonwealth would “have to work extra hard” to entice a developer here because there wouldn’t be much interest in a western Mass. casino.
“We pointed out that we thought we knew our districts better than the consultants,” Candaras said, “and as you can see, western Mass. is the hot spot for proposed casino developers.”
MGC member Bruce Stebbins, of Springfield, recognized that once Gov. Deval Patrick gave the gaming okay last fall, the commission was fully formed in April and has been working at a fast pace. He said everywhere he goes in gaming circles, people say “Massachusetts got it right.”
The MGC recently accelerated the application process by approving a pre-qualifying process. Beginning tomorrow, interested developers can start the process with a non-refundable $400,000 fee. MGC Commissioner said the fee helps weed out the serious developers from those toying with the idea of developing in Massachusetts.
In addition, those who pay the fee will gain access to other Massachusetts agencies for information needed to develop their plans, such as environmental requirements and building regulations common to any large-scale construction project.
Outside the auditorium, a group of people wearing bright yellow “Palmer First” shirts held signs to remind those inside that the town of Palmer was the first community in western Mass. to approve a referendum to host a casino more than a decade ago.
Robert Young, a member of the group Palmer Business for a Palmer Casino, said Palmer residents voted to support a casino in 1996.
“We’ve had a vested interest for almost 20 years,” said Young, adding that Mohegan Sun casino of Connecticut has been working with the town for the past five years.
“We are 75 percent done with mitigation with Mohegan Sun and we are way ahead of anyone else,” said Young.
A former mil town, Palmer has small and medium businesses, but no real commercial and industrial base to support the town with taxes. Young said a casino would bring jobs, revenues, and a boost to small business. Young owned a landscape and construction company and he believes the casino would positively affect his business.
“I’ve lost a lot of mowing customers but if there are jobs and revenue, people will have money for these things again,” he said. “Palmer wants this.”
On the flip side, a group of people, including members of the Chinese Christian Church in Springfield, held signs of protest.
“We are against this coming to Springfield,” said Rev. Phil Chiang. “Data shows urban settings are not effective for casinos, and data shows two million Americans are pathological gamblers – we don’t want that in Springfield.”
Members of the three panels that spoke throughout the day generally reserved their opinions on casinos.
Peter Rosskothen, president of the Delaney House and Log Cabin Banquet and chairman of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he was there to talk about tourism and let developers know the bureau wants to be supportive.
“We support casino development in western Massachusetts , but what is important to us is to have an agreement with a casino developer that allows us to be their marketing partner,” said Rosskothen.
Rosskothen said the bureau does not support a specific site.
“We are open minded to where the developer is, but to get a ‘nod’ from us, we’re seeking a company that will establish a partnership,” he said.
Ed Harrison, chairman of the Western Massachusetts Casino Task Force, also said he is neither for nor against a casino here. His job is to make sure the impacts of a casino on the region are recognized.
“We wanted to ensure that the western region was included at every step,” said Harrison. “We wanted a voice at the table.”
The first panel of the day centered on mitigation, while another panel discussed tourism, and a third discussed jobs.
Crosby acknowledged that a casino in Massachusetts is still about three years away. Representatives from several casino gaming companies, including Mohegan Sun and Ameristar, attended the forum.
