Casino Game Changes: Emergency Regulations, Opposition Ups Ante

Monday, April 15, 2013

Kate Nagle, GoLocalWorcester News Contributor

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced on Friday that it is seeking input on "emergency regulations" related to the host community agreement. Two groups have established a formal online -- as well as community -- presence opposing a slots parlor in Worcester.

Gaming Commission Proposing "Emergency Regulations"

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced on Friday it is asking for public feedback regarding an "emergency regulation" governing a Host Community Referendum by April 17th.

On Thursday April 11th, the Commission said it decided to seek public comments on a draft emergency regulation that would prohibit the holding of voter referendum on a gaming facility prior to the determination of suitability of the gaming applicant by the Commission.

The draft regulation provides an exception under which communities would be allowed to hold a referendum in advance of the Commission’s suitability determination.

According to the Commission website, it is a result of feedback from various constituents, including communities and gaming applicants, that adherence to the current regulation "may unnecessarily delay the licensing process, [so] the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is proposing an emergency regulation relative to host communities’ ability to move forward prior to a determination of applicant suitability."

The emergency regulation will allow for a host community to hold a referendum prior to a suitability determination provided "the community’s governing body formally approves a pre-suitability referendum" and "the community engages in an awareness campaign paid for by the applicant to educate voters on the suitability process still in progress by MGC."

The Commission said it welcomes comments from interested parties which should be submitted by April 17, 2013 at 1:00pm, via e-mail to [email protected] with “Host Community Referendum” in the subject line. The Commission plans to vote on the emergency regulation at its April 18, 2013 meeting.

Opposition Mounts

Ed Moynihan addresses the Worcester City Council joint committees during last week's public forum.

Two websites, one with a Facebook presence, have been established to oppose a slots proposal in Worcester.

Noslotsworcester.org, which also has a Facebook page, has announced a press conference for today, Monday April 15th, at 11 A.M. at City Hall.

The group's Facebook events page contains the following message. "In the absence of leadership from our City Council, concerned residents of Worcester from every part of city and from every walk of life have organized to battle a billionaire corporation, whose presence in this city will adversely affect every business, every family, and every neighborhood. Please join us!"

Listed on the "noslotsworcester" website is a link to a "sister site," votenoslots.com, which is being run by Ed Moynihan, who is a constable in Worcester and is a graduate of Holy Cross.

"When I first heard of the possibility of slots in Worcester, I began educating myself on the issue," said Moynihan. "This is not the way for positive growth. Slots would change the character of the city, and not for the better. Just look at Atlantic City. This is no way to base an economy."

Mass Gaming and LLC, the MA-affiliate of Rush Street Gaming, is looking to build a $200 million facility on the Wyman-Gordon property on Madison Street that would include 1,250 slot machines. Hotel developer Richard L. Friedman has plans to build a full service hotel, with 150 to 200 rooms, to the tune of $40 million.

Together, the two properties project they could add 600 jobs to the Worcester economy, with approximately 450 slated for the casino, and 150 to 250 at the hotel, which Mr. Friedman has indicated would not be next to the casino, but rather downtown.

Next Steps

Following the Worcester City Council's first public forum on the slots proposal last Monday, the next joint meeting of the City Council subcommittees -- and public forum -- has been moved to April 24 at 7 P.M. at City Hall, according to notoslots.org.

The full City Council is slated to vote on a motion to instruct City Manager O'Brien to negotiate a host agreement with Rush Gaming on April 23 at 7 P.M.