Massachusetts: ‘Gaming machines’ included in new tribal welcome center

Thursday, January 2, 2025 8:55 PM
  • Daniel Schemer, The Taunton Daily Gazette

Will gambling be allowed inside the planned welcome center being built in East Taunton on the reservation land designated for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s First Light Resort and Casino?

A new letter from Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’ Connell to the City Council, dated Dec. 23, indicates that besides “native artifacts showcasing the Tribe’s historical culture,” the welcome center will also include “10 gaming machines.”

O’Connell told the Taunton Daily Gazette in a written statement that, based on conversations with representatives of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, there will be “limited gaming offered at the Welcome Center as a preview,” though she didn’t indicate whether this “gaming” will constitute gambling that accepts money and pays out winnings.