The state gaming commission's 5-0 vote to keep a Suffolk Downs casino alive by calling for a new referendum in Revere preserves competition with Wynn Resorts for the sole greater Boston casino license — which a leading gambling expert says is crucial to ensuring the Bay State rakes in as much as possible.
Boston College professor Richard McGowan, who advised Boston on its defunct casino pact with Suffolk Downs, said competition allows the state to command higher-end amenities that will attract more gamblers, win commitments from casinos to keep their resorts up to date and viable, and compel applicants to plan for higher gaming revenues, 25 percent of which will be collected by the state. Suffolk Downs projected up to $1 billion in annual gaming revenue under its prior plan.
"Let's face it, if there's competition, it forces them to up the ante and build a better facility," McGowan said of casino developers. "I would say yes, they do want competition, and therefore they want both Suffolk Downs and Wynn going for that license."
But opponents say the insistence on competition swayed commissioners to bend the rules.
"If this law and this process and this commission were as robust as they purported it to be, there would be a scenario where potentially neither applicant gets approved," said Celeste Myers, leader of the group No Eastie Casino. "But they're orchestrating things and rigging things so that they have as many applicants — no matter how feeble — standing, so it gives the appearance of robust competition or a robust process. It's just false. And oh, by the way, we can all see it. It's very apparent what's happening here."
Commissioners yesterday took pains to cite the importance of competition.
"The message to Steve Wynn is that we're glad that he's here, we're glad he's in the competition, we look forward to seeing him next week," commissioner James McHugh said. "The fact that he's here is good for the commonwealth and good for the competition and good for the process."
A new Revere-only casino referendum will likely occur in February, with an exemption from the Dec. 31 deadline. On Nov. 5, Revere voted yes, East Boston no on a casino planned almost entirely in East Boston. Wynn, meanwhile, faces a hearing on its Everett land deal Friday and a suitability hearing next week. A final decision on who gets the Boston-area license will be made in May.
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