Boston Mayor Considering Options After Gaming Commission Ruling

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh is considering all options in response to a ruling last week by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission regarding the location of gaming establishments for Mohegan and Wynn. 

The MGC last week ruled unanimously that Boston has no claim to host community status for a casino project in Revere or a proposed Wynn Casino in Everett across the bridge from Charlestown's Sullivan Square, MyFoxBoston reported. 

The debate on whether Boston should be considered a host community has been ongoing, and Boston City Councilor Sal LaMattina recently voiced his frustrations over the process to the Commission, testifying at a hearing on March 26 that Charlestown and Boston proper should be considered a host community and allowed to vote on the proposed casino.

Last week, however, the Commission ruled that the gaming establishment proposed by Wynn is located in Everett and not located in the City of Boston, and as such found that Boston is accordingly not a host community.  

Walsh reportedly met with attorneys Friday afternoon and said city officials are considering whether there is potential for an appeals process, according MyFoxBoston, and issued the following statement in response to the ruling:

"Based on the ambiguous and arbitrary process the Gaming Commission has pursued, we believe that we have multiple options available to us at this time. We are continuing to work aggressively to determine the appropriate action to continue our fight for the people of Boston. My position has not changed: Boston is a host community to both sites, and the people of Boston -- of Charlestown and East Boston -- deserve the opportunity to vote and have their voices heard."

For more on the ruling, click here.