Foxwoods MA 'Suitability' Hearing Scheduled

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has scheduled a "suitability hearing" next week for Foxwoods Massachusetts, at which time state staff will recommend whether the developer has both ethical and economic viability as a resort casino applicant.

The hearing will be spread across two dates, Wednesday and Thursday. The public hearings will begin at 9:30 each morning, at the commission offices in Boston.

On Wednesday, the Mass Gaming Commission staff is expected to release its background report into the finances and backgrounds of key participants in the Foxwoods Massachusetts application.

The hearing is scheduled less than a week before the public vote in Milford on the casino application. Milford voters will decide on the project on Nov. 19.

In a statement, a spokesman for Foxwoods Massachusetts said Monday the development team had confidence it would pass this required threshold. "We're 100 percent confident in the results of our background check and believe our best practices will stand up at the suitability hearing," said Stephen Oakes, of the Liberty Square Group.

Casino-Free Milford, an organization which is opposed to the Milford casino, said through a spokeswoman that it was relieved the hearing had been scheduled, in advance of the town vote on the project.

"Casino-Free Milford expects the Gaming Commission will carefully review all
relevant information regarding the suitability of Foxwoods during the
hearings next week," said spokeswoman Geri Eddins. "We believe that Foxwoods' own track record of failure coupled with its declining financial status support our position that Foxwoods would not make a good business partner for Milford. It is unclear whether the Gaming Commission will make their ruling before November 19, and so our focus continues to be spreading our message as widely as possible
and getting as many supporters as we can to defeat the casino referendum in
Milford."

In several cases, voters in communities have decided on resort casino applications before the background investigations were completed. Everett voters overwhelmingly approved the proposed casino for that city in the spring, before the state's background investigation of Wynn Resorts was completed. The background review into Wynn Resorts continues.

In East Boston, the commission last week approved the Phase I "suitability" application for Suffolk Downs casino, only after one of its partners, Ceasar's, dropped out after being rejected in the background review. Voters in Boston decide today whether the Suffolk Downs project will advance.