The rumored Taunton Casino project, led by the federally recognized Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, may finally be nearing realization with more information forthcoming
According to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, more information will be released in early 2025, which will outline the project and how plausible it is moving forward. The message shared with Taunton Daily Gazette is one of cautious optimism, however.
Taunton Casino by Tribe May Finally Be Arriving
“We are working towards presenting these plans to the public in early 2025,” said Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chair Brian Weeden.
The plan Weeden is referring to is the arrival of a future First Light Resort & Casino, which is expected to be another way for the tribe to generate revenue and also benefit from capitalizing on its chosen location, driving footfall to a potential future casino floor.
The tribe has already some news to share, as in November it confirmed the groundbreaking ceremony on a welcome center that is designed to improve the conditions of the land and water, which is owned by the tribe, but has been contaminated by an illegal waste dump.
“While we did not contribute to the waste on our lands, we will once again step up as the original stewards to improve the health of the land and the water. The clean-up and landscaping project will improve the overall safety conditions in the area and remove years of illegal dumping,” Weeden said, recognizing that it was ultimately the tribe that ought to ameliorate the situation.
However, not everything is as straightforward as it seems. For one, the tribe is said to owe around $2.35 million in back payments to the city as part of annual property tax payments to the city, which was mandated after the tribe bought 321 acres in 2015.
Unsettled Accounts Not Expected to Disrupt Future Casino Project
However, this seems to be a minor issue for the future arrival of a casino, according to Mashpee Wampanoag Gaming Authority CFO Jim Erenzo who said that certain setbacks were outside the control of the tribe and that the tribe was still unfaltering in its commitment of pursuing new economic opportunities.
The issue with the payments began in 2021 when Genting, one of the backers of a potential Taunton casino project, decided to back out, causing a financial disarray that is still being mended. However, the tribe seems to have rallied and to have found another financial backer and developer, details about which are still unknown.
Whatever new financial backer there is, however, it will have to be aware of the unsettled accounts with the city. However, Weeden’s assurances that the tribe is working with the city could point to an amicable resolution of the outstanding issue.
