What You Need To Know

• The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe have signed a Compact governing Tribal Gaming in Southeastern Massachusetts.
• The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has received a decision of land-in-trust from the U.S. Department of Interior.
• There is currently ongoing litigation regarding the land-in-trust decision.
• The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has certain rights and responsibilities under the Compact regarding a Tribal Gaming facility.

The Tribal-State Compact

The Expanded Gaming Act provided a window until July 31, 2012 for the Governor to negotiate and the Legislature to approve a “compact” with one or more Indian tribes for the right to operate a casino in Southeastern Massachusetts.

On July 30, 2012, with the approval of the Legislature, the Governor signed a compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. The Compact was returned to the Governor’s Office from the U.S. Department of Interior and was renegotiated.

On March 20, 2013, Governor Deval Patrick and the Chair of the Tribe announced that a gaming Compact between the Commonwealth and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe had been signed. This compact has since been approved by the U.S. Department of Interior.

MassGaming’s Regulatory Authority and Responsibility

Pursuant to the Compact, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has a number of rights and responsibilities related to regulating the gaming enterprise and facility.