As expected, voters in Everett, Massachusetts, went to the polls, expressed their approval of Wynn Resorts‘ proposed resort — and it wasn’t even close. Opposition was obliterated, 86% to 14%. Where the burghers of tony Foxborough had turned up their noses at Steve Wynn, blue-collar, economically challenged Everett embraced him. With a host-community agreement and a literal vote of confidence in hand, Wynn has lined up his ducks with impressive speed — while the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is beginning to lose patience with other cities — even if neighboring communities like Somerville have to be brought into the fold. (Rival Suffolk Downs is still bogged down in negotiations.) True, a $1.2 billion casino in an East Coast market looks like something of a risk — the cautionary example of overbudgeted Sands Bethlehem is always close to mind — but Wynn’s got the best brand name in gaming, a solid balance sheet and will have the Boston and New Hampshire markets on his doorstep. If Wynn doesn’t get the Boston-area casino license, it’ll be very fishy.
To the southeast, Foxwoods Resort Casino is committing financial seppoku by pitching a $1 billion Massachusetts casino at a time when it’s 
trying to restructure is not-inconsiderable debt. Why Foxwoods wants to compete with itself, especially at such a steep price, continues to defy understanding. The plan, however, is interesting: a small, low-profile, rural getaway, 90% of which would be devoted to amenities such as “the site would feature ecological zones, native vegetation and expansion of recreational trails.”
Further west, Mohegan Sun pitched a new iteration of its proposed Palmer casino that would be the most ostentatious gaming property in state, if 
approved. Not only will a second tower be added, but indoor surfing, an artificial river and multiple ziplines would augment the experience, courtesy of the operators of Vermont‘s similar Jay Peak resort. When amusement-park developer Todd Finard says things like, “A guest experience on zip lines could last hours. You could send them tower to tower,” it sounds a bit wacky — but Mohegan Sun clearly thinks it needs to deliver a knockout punch to MGM Resorts International‘s proposed Springfield casino-hotel. (An open-air skating rink seems to be the most that West Springfield wants out of Hard Rock International.) Mohegan Sun isn’t as financially strapped back home as is Foxwoods, but $1 billion is a lot to throw into Palmer.
“at a time when it’s trying to restructure is not-inconsiderable debt” Agreed; however, “Woody” was able to accomplish the same when the nearly bankrupt (or were they bankrupt at the time?) Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts was awarded the casino license in French Lick, IN; which Trump later relinquished since they had no financing.
In the end, Milford’s lack of proximity to Boston could be the project’s fatal flaw. Both Suffolk Downs and Wynn Everett (or whatever will be called) are better positioned to spread the wealth into Beantown. I’m sure it has not escaped the notice of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission how quickly Everett got its act together while both East Boston and Milford are still squabbling over host-community agreements, with no referendum in sight.