Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said it is good to see the gaming commission is moving to speed the casino siting process.
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission advanced a plan today to expedite the timeline for opening casino resorts by as many as six months.
During a meeting in Boston, the five members of the commission agreed to pursue design of a two-part bidding process that would require casino operators to pass financial and integrity checks as a first step. If the companies pass that initial step, they would then be allowed to submit bids for operating licenses.
Members of the five-person Massachusetts Gaming Commission attend a news conference in Boston. From left the members are: Enrique Zuniga, James F. McHugh, Chairman Stephen Crosby, Bruce Stebbins, and Gayle Cameron.Stephen P. Crosby, chairman of the commission, said the proposal could cut between two and six months from the commission's estimate that it will be three to five years before a casino resort is up and running following a lengthy bidding and licensing effort. Crosby said the proposal could also save time and money for communities where casinos might locate.
"We're talking about a pretty substantial savings of time," Crosby said.
Commissioners first discussed the idea last week. Today, a consultant provided commissioners with sample disclosure forms and briefed them on what the process would include. Commissioners asked the consultant, Guy Michael, a lawyer with Michael & Carroll of Atlantic City, N.J., to come back in two weeks with a specific plan for a possible vote to proceed.
"It would show people — like your mayor — that we are sensitive to this issue and we're trying to think of everything we can think of to expedite the process without compromising anything material," Crosby said in an interview.
Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno had said he hoped the commission could reduce the number of years it estimates for casinos to open. Saying the city needs jobs and revenues, Sarno said on Monday that it is good to see the gaming commission is working to speed the licensing process.
The consultant said background investigations could take about six months, depending on the complexity of the application. Applicants who clear the first step could then move to the local approval process and to the process of submitting a comprehensive bid for a license.
The commission might need to subcontract the background investigations because it still needs to staff its own investigative bureau.
Sarno said a couple of other casino companies could also propose projects for Springfield.
In the only proposal so far for Springfield, Ameristar Casinos of Las Vegas is proposing a resort with 4,000 slot machines and a 600-room hotel on Page Boulevard in Springfield on 41 acres it purchased for $16 million in January.
Sarno said the competition among casino operators is going to be cut throat. The mayor said he plans to seek bids from possible consultants to advise the city on negotiating the best deal with a casino company.
Communities are allowed to negotiate agreements with casino companies that can include job guarantees, business for local vendors, road improvements and other items.
Voters in a potential host community must approve any casino deal before it can submit a bid to the gaming commission. In Boston, Springfield and Worcester, only a host ward must vote. The law does say a city's "local governing body" can vote to opt out of the provision for only a ward vote in the three most populated cities.
Bruce W. Stebbins of Springfield, a member of the commission, said the proposed two-step bidding could shorten the process. "I want us to beat expectations but be diligent about the process," Stebbins said.
Other commission members include James F. McHugh, Gayle Cameron and Enrique Zuniga. The commission was created to regulate, license and oversee expanded gambling in Massachusetts.
The state's casino law, signed in November by Gov. Deval L. Patrick, authorizes up to three casino resorts in different zones, including one within the four counties of Western Massachusetts.
The law also authorizes a slot facility that could be anywhere in the state.
In another possible entry in the Western Massachusetts casino sweepstakes, Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik said this week that Penn National Gaming is eyeing a 280-acre plot of land near the Massachusetts Turnpike for a casino resort.
Chicopee Mayor Michael D. Bissonette has also said that he expects a casino proposal for his city.
The Mohegan Sun of Connecticut is planning a casino for 152 acres in Palmer off Exit 8 of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Hard Rock International of Florida proposed a casino in Holyoke, but was opposed by Mayor Alex Morse.
MGM Resorts International of Las Vegas recently dropped plans for a casino in Brimfield, but said it is looking elsewhere in Western Massachusetts.