The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe plans to include gaming machines in their new welcome center project in Taunton, Massachusetts. The facility will feature 10 gaming positions as a preview of their proposed First Light Resort & Casino.

As a federally recognized tribe since 2007, the Mashpee Wampanoag can operate Class I and II gaming on their sovereign territory under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Class II gaming includes bingo-based electronic games, though specific details about the welcome center's gaming offerings haven't been revealed.

The tribe's land was permanently placed in federal trust in February 2023 after years of legal battles. This followed multiple reversals by the Bureau of Indian Affairs under different presidential administrations regarding the tribe's 321-acre territory acquired in 2015.

The welcome center represents a scaled-down version of the tribe's original $1 billion casino resort plans, which stalled after their partner Genting Group withdrew from the project. Besides gaming machines, the facility will showcase tribal history and display plans for the First Light project.

The tribe plans to present their complete welcome center blueprint to the Taunton City Council in early 2024. Currently, they are cleaning up the site and addressing $2.35 million in back taxes owed to the city, which accumulated after Genting's withdrawal from the casino project.

Related Articles

Previous Articles