Casino Law Info Meeting, Mon. 9/16

Massachusetts Gaming Commission ombudsman will present

overview of state’s current casino laws

SOMERVILLE – The City of Somerville will host an

informational public meeting with a Massachusetts Gaming Commission staffer to

give City officials and the public a better understanding of the state’s casino

laws and how those laws may relate to Somerville.

Gaming Commission Ombudsman John Ziemba will lead a

presentation on Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m., in the East Somerville Community

School auditorium at 50 Cross St. He will touch upon facets of the law such as

host community status, surrounding community status, mitigation for affected

communities and more. Representatives from City Hall will serve as members of a

panel and the meeting will be open to the public.

This meeting will not focus on specific proposed casino

projects in Massachusetts or advocating for or against casinos. Instead, City

officials hope to gain a better understanding of the casino law and its

potential impacts, and to educate the public about the law.

“Regardless of personal opinions about casinos, it’s

important for us to become well-versed in the current laws governing the

creation of casinos in Massachusetts and the impact of those laws on our

community,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “I thank the Gaming Commission and

Mr. Ziemba for making themselves available to City officials and the public,

providing us with a better understanding of the law and answering any questions

we may have.”

Gov. Deval Patrick signed “An Act Establishing Expanded

Gaming in the Commonwealth” in late 2011, allowing for up to three resort

casinos—one in Western Massachusetts, one in Central and Eastern Massachusetts

and one in Southeastern Massachusetts. It also allows the creation of one slots

facility in the state. Host communities under the law are locations where the

casino or slots facility will be located, while surrounding communities are

municipalities in proximity to a host community and are determined, by the

Gaming Commission, to experience impacts from the establishment of a casino.