The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has announced plans to build a welcome center in Taunton, Massachusetts, on land designated for their proposed $1 billion First Light casino resort.

The welcome center will showcase the tribe's history and culture while promoting the potential benefits of the First Light development project, including job creation and tax revenue generation. Tribal Chairman Brian Weeden describes it as "a place to learn about our history, connect with our culture, and see what's next for our reservation."

The tribe's casino ambitions have faced numerous challenges since receiving federal recognition in 2007. Initially partnering with Malaysian gaming company Genting, the project encountered legal obstacles regarding land trust status and lost its funding source. While the US Supreme Court ultimately upheld the tribe's right to keep the 321 acres in federal trust in April 2024, state officials remain hesitant to establish a Class III gaming compact necessary for full casino operations.

The welcome center represents the first concrete development on the property since the initial groundbreaking in 2016. Its construction moves forward despite uncertainty surrounding the larger casino project, which would require state approval for Las Vegas-style gaming operations including slot machines, table games, and sports betting.

The situation has also impacted Massachusetts' gaming landscape, as the state Gaming Commission has withheld issuing a commercial casino license for the southeastern region due to potential market saturation concerns should the tribal casino eventually materialize.

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