Restarting the clock in Massachusetts; Atlantic City, international destination?

It looks like it’s back to Square One for Massachusetts‘ southeastern region. No host community agreements have been executed. No referendums have been held (with a mid-July deadline looming). And, although the cutoff date has passed, new candidates want to get into the running for a Region C casino.

Faced with this stalemate — and the potential failure to put any casino in the region — the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is contemplating drastic action. For one, it would encourage new bidders. For another, it would revive the application deadline and extend it to March 2015. “Only gambling operators that met last year’s deadline for initial applications or were rejected in one of the state’s other two casino regions can seek the southeast license at this point,” explains The Associated Press.

That would be music to the ears of the Mashpee Wampanoags, who are still waiting on federal action, especially the time-consuming, land-in-trust application process. Despite having played footsie with New Bedford, the folks from Foxwoods Massachusetts insist they’re still sweet on Fall River, with CEO Scott “Woody” Butera characterizing his interest as “strong.” But Foxwoods doesn’t have a site. KG Urban Enterprises has a New Bedford site — a former power plant — but lacks a casino operator.

Now Bridgeport-based Claremont Cos. wants in, offering to convert its 170-acre campus to a casino resort. Canadian private-equity fund Clairvest Group has also asked for the application process to be rebooted. Doing so only makes sense. The chances of Region C getting its act together by Sept. 23 are too long.

Staying put. Although ThistleDown Racino is demonstrably drawing business off Horseshoe Cleveland, owner Rock Gaming Caesars is standing pat. A clause negotiated with Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) gave Caesars the option of moving to a track in the Akron-Canton area. However, the company will let that option expire and, furthermore, invest $60 million in capex improvements to ThistleDown.

In return, Warrensville Heights, North Randall and Cuyahoga County will make unspecified infrastructural improvements. “ThistleDown Racino has received a tremendous welcome from Cleveland‘s east side and from the Northeast Ohio community as a whole,” said Marcus Glover, Caesars’ top man in the area.

Gateway drug. Could Atlantic City be the airline gateway to America, flying in planefuls of European gamblers? Borgata President Tom Ballance “envisions European tourists flying to Atlantic City and staying for a night or two before fanning out for vacations in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore or Washington, D.C.” Cheap hotel rooms would be among the attractions, along with retail … and gambling, of course. International event manager Gerilyn Horan added that the Boardwalk could be promoted as a convention destination. (Yes, Atlantic City might be a tatty port of entry but every city has its seedy side.)

British carrier Jet2.com is in talks with Atlantic City International (it already services Newark). Irish discount carrier Ryanair was also mentioned as worth pursuing. Although A.C. International has customs and immigration facilities, only small, private flights tend to use them at present. Fliers are using the airport’s service to Chicago and Houston to connect with Mexican, Caribbean and South American destinations. Atlantic City leaders would like to reverse that spigot and lure tourists from the Southern Hemisphere to their town. The idea of Atlantic City as a magnet for international tourism may seem far-fetched at first glance, but it’s worth trying. The city’s got nothing to lose.