In what must be the shortest-lived deal in Penn National Gaming‘s history, its nascent partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino went down to defeat yesterday. Crossroads Massachusetts, as it was called, didn’t just lose — it was crushed. An unofficial tabulation has Foxwoods taking it on the chin, 35% to 65%. Unlike cities such as Everett and Springfield, Foxwoods’ host community of Milford just didn’t feel the need the infusion of casino dollars. Opponents can congratulate themselves on having organized early and for waging a 10-month campaign against gambling, earning an electoral jackpot (for them, if not for the Milford economy). Not all of the opponents were anti-gambling per se. Said one, “We’re not against the casino, that’s just not the right spot for it.”
Foxwoods CEO Scott Butera was gracious in defeat. “Throughout this process we’ve gotten to know Milford and thousands of its residents. While we worked hard to offer a resort casino we believe would benefit the area, the town made a decision similar to many other communities across the state,” he said. Implicit in his statement is the fact that much of Massachusetts is rejecting casino gambling much as a body might repel a kidney transplant. The Bay State’s culture, one of America’s oldest and most deeply entrenched, simply may not be ready for casinos. Industry leaders might want to take that repeal campaign very seriously.
“I think people are afraid of the unknown,” Butera told The Associated Press. “They are not these crazy hedonistic places. They’re actually very nice resorts that have a lot more to do with just games.” That misperception had a lot more to do with Foxwoods’ defeat than did its near-meltdown last week, which was just the cherry on the icing. Foxwoods may be back, in another Massachusetts locale, but it needs to get its act together first.
So now there are three. MGM Springfield and Wynn Resorts‘ Everett project are voter-approved and have finished proposals now before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter has not blessed either, yet. Suffolk Downs has approval to operate but no project concept and no operating partner. It’s all rather a mess and I’m sure commissioners will be happier to take on the slot parlor first, where Penn National, Cordish Gaming and Greenwood Racing all have their ducks lined up neatly.
