BestCraps.com

Vegas Casino Mogul eyeing another casino project in Bay State

Posted on July 18th, 2010

News Sponsored by Online Vegas Casino

Rated 5 Stars by BestCraps.com

Read Review

Visit Casino

Download Software

————————————————

Las Vegas casino mogul Stephen Wynn is out again, scouting to build his next casino empire. This time his eyes are set on South Boston. The Chief Executive of Wynn Resorts Ltd is said to have hired the help of local lobbyists and a PR firm to run with them the idea of building a Bay State Casino last April. “Our next project will undoubtedly be in China, unless we get involved in Massachusetts,” said Wynn to his team of analysts. According to some sources, a representative from Wynn Resorts is said to have come up to owner of Fan Pier, Joseph Fallon talking about a possible resort casino in the Seaport District that is to over look the Boston Harbor.

The Wynn Resorts Co. has been operational since the 1970s and has pioneered in building some of the world’s most famous casinos. These include The Mirage, Bellagio, Treasure Island at The Mirage and The Golden Nuggets in Las Vegas. Also the Atlantic City Golden Nugget and Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi. Encore at Wynn Macau was opened last April, an expansion project of its casino , which has a lavish 414 room hotel fully equipped with restaurants and shopping district. Wynn is one of the many lobbyist for the legalization of resort-style casino construction in the state of Massachusetts.

Wynn Subsidiaries have also done the same. Development Associates LLC, on of Wynn Subsidiaries paid almost $400,000 to ML Strategies, a Boston lobbyist for the advancement of the company’s interest to build a casino in the area. Wynn also hired Boston PR firm Howell Communications to promote the company’s firm. The PR firm is operated by political strategist Ray Howell. Michael McCormack sides with Wynn of his choice of location for the proposed casino project. The former City Councilor said that if a Boston casino is to be built, it should be located on a place that will draw people in. “What’s better than a casino with phenomenal views of the Boston Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean? I think it’s a fabulous location” he said. McCormack represented New York real estate mogul Donald Trump in Trump’s 1993 bid to create a casino in Long Island.

More people begin to agree, including Boston developer Dean Stratouly. “The waterfront is a perfect location for a casino,” he said. “It’s close to the convention center, the airport and the downtown hotels. A casino at Seaport would bring more hotels and lots of entertainment venues.” Boston Harbor Association executive director Vivien Li, however thinks other wise. She thinks that the allocated space will not be enough for a casino and the required land area for parking space as well. Other concerns that has risen in relation to the proposed casino project is the impact it will have on neighboring South Boston.

South Boston Democrat Senator Jack Hart proposed to changing the current casino legislation prohibiting any casinos to be built on South Boston, where the Seaport District is included. The motion however was deemed unconstitutional by Senate President Therese Murray. “I’m not surprised that a developer would consider the waterfront for a casino given its location next to the convention center, But I think I speak for the majority of the people of the neighborhood when I say that folks would rather see a casino at Suffolk Downs.” Hart said. In the event Wynn wins a go to build his planned Boston casino, and gets a legislation nod, this will start a tight competition between 2 other proposals for the license.

Suffolk Downs is also proposing a full scale casino estimated at $600 million that features a hotel, a casino with 5000 slot machines, 200 table games, restaurants and retail shops to be added on the 75 year old racetrack. David Nunes and Warner Gaming proposed on Milford the Crossroads resort that would include a 267,000 square foot casino and a 250 room hotel. Restaurants, bars and shopping facilities are also part of the proposed plan. Currently the law on allowing casinos in the state is still yet to be finalized and decided as a compromise between House Speaker Robert Deleo’s support for placing slot machines at racetracks and Governor Deval Patricks stand against it. If a decision will be made successfully on the casino project, more bidders will line up for future casino licenses.