In This Newsletter:

- What Is Massachusetts Really Proposing For Indian Gaming?

- IRS Requests Comments Regarding The Allocation Of Volume Cap For Tribal Economic Development Bonds

- The Battle Of Tallahassee: War Over Casino Gaming

Excerpt from What Is Massachusetts Really Proposing For Indian Gaming?

The Massachusetts House and Senate have passed legislation that Governor Deval Patrick may have signed into law by the time of this publication’s distribution. If signed, the law would authorize three casinos in regionally designated locations within the state, with a preference for the southeastern regional license to be issued to a federally recognized Indian tribe. The license preference was written for what unquestionably is Mashpee Wampanoag, the tribe that met the Mayflower in 1620 but was not federally recognized until the spring of 2007.

While the identity of the intended beneficiary tribe is clear, what the tribe would be getting with the preference is not.

At the outset, it should be noted that as of this writing, the author has reviewed the final bill that went to the Governor, and the provisions quoted below are contained therein.