Background investigations to qualify casino companies could reduce the commission's previous estimate that a casino resort in Massachusetts could open in about three to five years from now.
Massachusetts Gaming Commission chairman Stephen Crosby is seen last year at the time of his appointment.BOSTON - Seeking to speed the process for opening casino resorts, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is moving to qualify potential casino operators before they submit full-blown bids for licenses.
During a meeting on Tuesday in Boston, members of the commission, which is overseeing the state's gambling expansion, talked about a proposal to have a two-step process for selecting companies to build casinos. Click here for the commission's home page on the web.
Under the first step, casino companies would have to submit materials to pass financial and integrity background checks. If they pass those checks, the companies would then be qualified and allowed to file separate applications for licenses to operate a casino.
Stephen P. Crosby, chairman of the commission, said the background investigations to qualify companies could reduce the commission's previous estimate that a casino resort in Massachusetts could open in about three to five years from now.
"We will be looking for ways that don't compromise our ability to do our job right and can cut time out of this," Crosby said. "I think this does that. This might pick up three to six months. This can make a material difference."
Critics, including Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, have questioned if the commission is moving fast enough to approve casino resorts, considering the need for jobs and generating taxes for communities.
Crosby said the process for awarding licenses would move faster if companies were pre-qualified for submitting bids for licenses. The qualification process would expedite the selection of licensees by possibly weeding out applicants who do not comply with the necessary integrity and financial standards, according to Crosby.
Under the first stage, called "requests for qualifications," casino companies would not be required to list the location of their project. The process, if approved, would require all casino companies to step forward and show their interest in Massachusetts, but not necessarily where they want to build.
"Everybody has got to put their cards on the table," Crosby said.
According to a summary from the commission, the qualification process would avoid having a potential host community vote on a project only to have it later rejected by the commission for failing to pass integrity and financial checks.
Bruce Stebbins"The process could potentially save some municipalities a lot of time and effort," said commission member Bruce W. Stebbins of Springfield.
The commission will only review bids from companies that include voter approval in a city or town where a casino would be located.
Crosby said the commission might be able to seek qualification proposals in about a month.
If qualified, companies would submit bids for licenses that would include an economic analysis, the nature of the project, employment and financial projections, environmental issues and methods for dealing with impacts on communities that surround a municipality where a casino would be sited.
The state's expanded gambling law, signed by Gov. Deval L. Patrick in November, authorizes up to three minimum $500 million casino resorts including one for anywhere in the four counties of Western Massachusetts. The law also calls for a separate slot facility.
In Western Massachusetts, the Mohegan Sun is planning a casino on 152 acres of leased land located in Palmer just off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Ameristar Casinos of Las Vegas is planning a casino resort for Springfield. Ameristar paid $16 million in January for a 41-acre site on Page Boulevard and I-291 in Springfield.
Hard Rock International in Florida, teamed up with a local group called Paper City Development, may select a new site in Western Massachusetts after being rebuffed by the Holyoke mayor for a casino in Holyoke.
In late March, MGM Resorts International dropped out of a casino project planned for Brimfield. MGM has said it will seek an alternative site in Western Massachusetts.
Also on Tuesday, the commission selected C. Stanley McGee of Boston as its acting executive director. McGee is currently assistant secretary for policy and planning for the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. McGee's salary will remain the same at $121,000.
The commission also named Elaine B. Driscoll of Boston as director of communications. Crosby said Driscoll may receive a small raise from her current salary of about $107,000. She now works as director of communications for the Boston Police Department.