New Era of Tribal Gaming Begins as Massachusetts Tribe Opens Welcome Center and Casino Floor

The landscape of tribal gaming in Massachusetts is evolving, as a federally recognized tribe has officially transitioned into a gaming community. The landscape of tribal gaming in Massachusetts is evolving, as a federally recognized tribe has officially transitioned into a gaming community. This new era of local entertainment began with the opening of a small welcome center, which serves as an entry point into the world of tribal gaming by featuring 10 slot-like machines.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has opened its welcome center in Taunton, roughly 35 air miles from its original reservation on Cape Cod.

Why the Welcome Center?

Tribal leaders said the facility would be a place for the public to learn about the sovereign community’s history, connect with its culture, see what’s next for the reservation, and gamble a bit.

A Look Inside the Welcome Center

The 2,200-square-foot facility is on Stevens St. in East Taunton on sovereign land owned by the tribe.

During the soft opening of the tribe’s welcome center, the gaming machines are spinning and providing real money payouts to players.

While the games appear to be the same slot machines one would find inside Encore Boston Harbor or MGM Springfield, the terminals are actually electronic bingo-based devices.

The Gaming Options

Available games include Forbidden Treasures and Cash Storm. The cabinets are from Aries Technology, a gaming manufacturer and distributor that sells and licenses gaming machines to Native American communities.

During the soft opening, proceeds from the games are being directed to tribal charities.

Come Jan. 26, the gross revenue will go to a general fund controlled by the Mashpee Wampanoag government.

A Road to Casino Development

For more than a decade, the Mashpee Wampanoag has been trying to open a tribal casino resort that would strengthen the tribe’s economic sovereignty.

Currently, the tribe’s business interests rely on a wholesale shellfish farm where oysters are the primary product.

The federal government has impeded the Mashpee’s road to becoming a casino tribe.

A Complex History

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs issued contradicting opinions during recent presidential administrations, with politics in play in determining whether the federal trust should accept the tribe’s 321 acres of land it acquired in Taunton in 2015.

Last April, the United States Supreme Court upheld a lower federal court’s rejection of a lawsuit brought by citizens of Taunton challenging the federal government’s 2022 accepting of the land into trust under President Joe Biden’s Interior Department.

The Future of the Welcome Center

Extended hours will begin Jan. 26 when the welcome center holds its grand opening.

Conclusion

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s welcome center marks a significant step forward for the community, providing a space for education, culture, and gaming.

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