Massachusetts Gaming Commission Sets Goals for First Casino License

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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission met with a team of consultants in Boston today where they unveiled a preliminary Strategic Plan in preparation for licensing up to three casinos and one slot parlor.

Gaming commission chair Stephen Crosby had no trouble navigating a color coded map outlining what "activities" need to be completed before licenses can be issued under the state's new gambling law. He says the work-plan is already helping the commission identify tasks lacking staff and other critical resources.

"We can isolate time sinks and do everything in our power to shorten those. Now if you go through these the dark green down below is the longest line on here, and that is the one for the background checks."

Crosby says he thinks conducting criminal, financial and other investigations of casino applicants is the main item that could slow down the licensing process. consultants hired by the state added that, in other states this process has taken nine to eighteen months, but should take about six months in Massachusetts.

Crosby says with that activity factored in -- the gaming commission will set next fall as a goal for issuing its first license.

"We all believe if we have a target we will try like hell to make our target but the plausibility is that it will be somewhere between October-November to February-March. That's the realistic time frame."

Crosby says the consultants' schedule calls for casino applications to be filed by December 31st.