Everett Casino Agreement is Reached, Vote Scheduled

Everett officials have completed the negotiation of a host community agreement with casino developer Wynn Resorts, of Las Vegas, becoming the first community in the greater Boston region to schedule a public vote on a resort casino.

According to the agreement, the referendum will be June 22. [Editor's Note: See attached PDF for text of host community agreement.]

Under the terms:

• Wynn Resorts will pay the city $30 million in advance for a "community enhancement fund," which will be made available during construction for any capital improvement project. 

• Once built, the resort will pay $25.3 million annually, including $20 million in real estate taxes, $5 million for a community impact fee and $250,000 as a contribution to the Everett Citizens Foundation, which will support local groups. All of these annual payments will increase by 2.5 percent a year.

• The resort will distribute $50,000 in gift certificates to Everett businesses each year to its frequent guests, and as loyalty rewards to customers.

• Wynn customers will pay an estimated $2.5 million a year in hotel and restaurant taxes.

• The company will invest more than $1 billion in the resort and complete construction in a single phase.

• Public access to the waterfront will be opened.

• The resort will complete a multi-million remediation of the existing environmental contamination on the site.

• Hiring preference for Everett citizens on more than 8,000 temporary construction and permanent jobs.

Milford and Suffolk Downs in East Boston also have casino applications before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. In Milford, the Foxwoods Massachusetts casino is being pursued by a partnership including Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. The Suffolk Downs casino redevelopment is being pursued by a group including Ceasar's, of Las Vegas. The Suffolk Downs site is in both East Boston and Chelsea, 

If approved by the communities in referendum votes, all three resort applications will compete for a single license available in the greater Boston region.