Patrick: State not ready for casino compact talks

By Stephanie Vosk

September 05, 2008

BOSTON — Informal conversations will continue with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, but Gov. Deval Patrick doesn't yet seem to be ready to settle on a casino compact.

"There isn't a whole lot that meaningfully we can talk about until they have the land in trust," Patrick said yesterday during his monthly radio appearance on 96.9 WTKK.

The tribe this week delivered a letter to the governor's office that sought to formally kick off negotiations for a proposed $1 billion casino in Middleboro. The state, however, is not required to start talking until the tribe has land in federal trust for an Indian reservation, a step that is at least six months off, if not further.

The governor is still officially reviewing the letter, spokeswoman Kofi Jones said yesterday.

By starting compact talks now, the tribe hopes to speed up the construction process, tribal council spokesman Scott Ferson said yesterday.

During the hour-long radio program, host Jim Braude also asked Patrick whether he plans to revisit his own casino plans. His proposal for three resort casinos was overwhelmingly shot down by the House of Representatives in March. Patrick gave the same vague answer he has had for the question each time it's been asked: we'll see.

But, he once again touted a talking point in his original argument — that casinos are inevitable.

"We're going to have to deal with this question sooner or later on account of the tribe," Patrick said. "I believe what we ought to be trying to do is to do that within a framework of our choosing rather than having a framework that is imposed upon us."

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe was officially recognized by the federal government last year, giving it the right to apply to put land in trust and operate a casino under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Gaming compacts — agreements that typically include the responsibilities of each party and a revenue-sharing arrangement — are only required for casinos that include Las Vegas-style slots or table games.