The new head of a Massachusetts tribe intends to take a cautious approach to gambling during his first year in office. Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Chairman Brian Weeden is turning attention to social challenges and other economic opportunities for its members.
He said last month's decision by President Joe Biden's administration to affirm the tribe’s reservation and reverse a controversial Trump-era order gives the tribe legal footing to continue pursuing its long-standing casino dreams.
“Everything going on in this country around social injustice and racial injustice, that’s all fine and good," Weeden said. "But the original inhabitants of this country are still fighting for what little land we have. Native Americans still don’t have their fair share.”
Tribal leaders hope to present to members a plan next month to spend down the tribe’s roughly $15m allocation from Biden's coronavirus stimulus bill. Weeden said the tribe will also pursue federal funds through the $1.2tr infrastructure bill Biden recently signed into law, which includes some $11bn for tribes.
“We’re back to the drawing board, basically,” said Weeden. “There’s still an appetite for gaming. It just needs to be a smart approach. It has to be different from the past. We need to learn from our mistakes and proceed with caution.”
Massachusetts currently has three major casinos, which are MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and the slot parlor Plainridge Park. State lawmakers are weighing legislation to legalize sports betting in Massachusetts.
Before litigation and the Trump administration order derailed it, the tribe broke ground in 2016 on a $1bn resort casino in a former industrial park. The resort was to include a hotel and shopping, dining and entertainment options, including a water park.
Opting to build a more modest slot parlor or bingo hall, Weeden said, would exempt it from a 17% state tax on gaming revenues, even if it meant not being able to offer popular table games like blackjack and poker.
Weeden also said the tribe also shouldn’t rule out abandoning the casino plan altogether and finding other ways to bring financial stability. He’d like to look into opening tax-free smoke shops, tax-free gas stations, recreational marijuana shops, along with other economic development initiatives on its lands.
“We need to exercise our sovereignty,” Weeden said. “Casinos are just low-hanging fruit.”
