Rolling the Dice

Coverage of casino licensing and the gambling referendum

Encore president says casino will open on time

Regulators approve drinks for gamblers until 4 a.m.

By Bruce Mohl Casinos 0 Comments May 22, 2019

THE TOP OFFICIAL at Encore Boston Harbor told state regulators on Wednesday that the Everett hotel and casino will open on schedule at 10 a.m. June 23. It will also be allowed to serve complimentary alcoholic drinks to active gambling customers until 4 a.m., thanks to a ruling by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The opening(...)

Talks over, Wynn now committed to casino

Firm ceases discussions with MGM Resorts

By Colin A. Young Casinos 0 Comments May 21, 2019

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE THE DISCUSSIONS between Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts around a possible sale of the soon-to-open Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett are over and Wynn Resorts says it is committed to its Boston-area project. The two Las Vegas powerhouses had confirmed Friday that they were discussing a sale of the Everett property, a(...)

Why help only the Mashpee Wampanoag?

All tribes deserve same rights, including Aquinnah Wampanoags

By Paul DeBole Casinos 0 Comments May 17, 2019

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT WEEK for the Mashpee Wampanoag in their quest to open a tribal casino in Taunton. The US House of Representative passed the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Reservation Reaffirmation Act by a vote of 275 to 146. The act is designed to correct a flaw in the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934(...)

Wynn casino could open a week or two late

CEO says company may appeal Gaming Commission's secondary conditions

By Bruce Mohl Casinos 0 Comments May 9, 2019

This story was updated at 9 p.m. WYNN RESORTS CEO Matt Maddox told financial analysts on Thursday that the company’s Everett casino and hotel are on schedule to open as planned on June 23, but he indicated the opening could be delayed a week or two to make sure there are no loose ends. “We’re(...)

Wynn Resorts on hook for $1.3m in legal fees

Tab for law firms defending Gaming Commission from Steve Wynn

By Colman M. Herman and Bruce Mohl Casinos 0 Comments May 3, 2019

THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION paid about $1.25 million to five outside law firms defending the agency and one of its top employees in a lawsuit brought by Steve Wynn, but officials say the legal tab will be picked up by Wynn Resorts. The invoices for legal work, released Friday in response to a public records(...)

What you need to know about the Wynn decision

Las Vegas firm has 30 days to pay $35m

By Andy Metzger Casinos, Wynn 0 Comments May 1, 2019

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission issued its decision about Wynn Resorts Tuesday night. On Wednesday, commissioners took questions from the press. Here’s a Q&A attempting to answer some of the questions around the decision. Q: Is the Wynn Resorts casino in Everett going to open as planned June 23? A: It looks that way. The Massachusetts(...)

‘Deeply troubled’ Gaming Commission allows Wynn to open casino

Company hit with $35m fine and CEO assessed $500,000

By Andy Metzger Gaming Commission, Matt Maddox, suitability, Wynn, Wynn Resorts 0 Comments Apr 30, 2019

WYNN RESORTS WILL need to pay $35 million and its CEO Matt Maddox will need to pony up $500,000 under a Massachusetts Gaming Commission decision that allows the gaming giant to keep its Boston-area casino license and open its Everett resort in June. In its decision, the commission found the company suitable to retain its(...)

Fate uncertain, Wynn doles out $1m to 10 groups

Museum of Fine Arts, RIZE Massachusetts biggest recipients

By Bruce Mohl Casinos 0 Comments Apr 18, 2019

WYNN RESORTS doled out nearly $1 million in donations to nine Massachusetts nonprofits and the city of Everett over the last two weeks despite uncertainty about whether the company will be allowed to retain its casino license. Since the close of three days of hearings by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on April 4, the casino(...)

Budget notes: Beacon Hill assuming Encore will open on time

Nursing homes get $30m Band-Aid

By Bruce Mohl and Andy Metzger Medicare, nursing homes, Pharmaceuticals, restaurants, Title X, Wynn 0 Comments Apr 10, 2019

THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING Commission is currently meeting in private, trying to decide whether Wynn Resorts should be allowed to retain its casino license and open on time in June. But budget officials on Beacon Hill are acting as if the decision has already been made. A fiscal 2020 budget proposal put out by the House(...)

Wynn Resorts security chief gone after spying admission

James Stern copped to covert tactics in hearing last week

By Andy Metzger Casinos 0 Comments Apr 8, 2019

THE FORMER FBI AGENT who headed up Wynn Resorts’ security operation no longer has a job at the international casino business four days after telling regulators he spied on employees and the ex-wife of the company’s founder. The casino company, which plans to open an Everett resort in June, has been under scrutiny since a(...)