The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has announced plans to include gaming machines in their upcoming welcome center in Taunton, Massachusetts. According to Mayor Shaunna O'Connell, the facility will feature 10 gaming positions as a preview to the tribe's planned First Light Resort & Casino.

The tribe can operate Class I and Class II gaming on their sovereign territory under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). While Class I gaming involves traditional tribal games, Class II permits bingo-based games, including electronic versions, played for money.

This development comes after a lengthy legal battle over the tribe's 321 acres of land. In February 2023, a federal judge in Boston confirmed the land's trust status, allowing the tribe to proceed with gaming operations. The previous $1 billion casino project, partnered with Genting Group, was abandoned during the legal disputes.

The welcome center will serve multiple purposes:

• House 10 gaming machines
• Showcase tribal history
• Display plans for the First Light project
• Provide visitor information

The tribe plans to present detailed blueprints to the Taunton City Council in early 2024. Currently, they are cleaning up the site and addressing $2.35 million in back taxes owed to the city, which accumulated after Genting's withdrawal from the casino project.

The Mashpee Wampanoag, who received federal recognition in 2007, have historic ties to the area, with their ancestors participating in the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims. This welcome center represents a step toward their goal of economic self-sufficiency through gaming operations.

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