Just saw a byline on NECN; MGM looking to bid a casino in Western MA. That makes four known players for that area.

Thats correct. It's proposed for a site in Brimfield, which is directly on the Mass Pike and closer to Worcester than Springfield. The problem this site has is that there is no existing exit and the plan kind of hinges on a dedicated exit being built just for the casino. In MA, that's a tall task, but with the size of this project i'm sure it can get done.
Apparently the details of the proposal are to be released tomorrow. I'm not sure what details, whether vague like the Ameristar idea or more detailed like the Mohegan idea.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.s...l_details.html
and an update on the Springfield (Ameristar) and Holyoke (Hard Rock) plans: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.s...tml#incart_mrt

So they released some details today. MGM seems pretty serious, the CEO was in town for the proposal.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.s...nos/index.html

If i'm not mistaken, Foxwoods and Mohegan do not have to pay taxes on poker tables, only slots correct? MA legislation appears to have a 25% tax on all gaming revenues, which could lead to a lesser focus on poker since it will be even less profitable.

Looks like the Globe heard my plea, they have a page dedicated to their casino coverage.

http://www.boston.com/news/specials/...?p1=News_links

Holy crap, Holyoke elected a 22-year-old mayor?????

Yup....and he won basically because he was the candidate who opposed casinos. He was in college when he started his campaign.

Anyone playing the EPT thing over in natick this Saturday.

$150 tourney. Not playing that but they are gonna have 1/2 cash and figure it could be an easy game

that cant be right.......??? can it ?

the rake on the game is 10% up to $5 max. How does that compare to FW and/or MS ??

Not bad FW has $4max....

How are the cash games at the EPT? Loose? Tight?

"Native American casinos on tribal land don’t pay federal income tax. They usually pay a slot-machine tax to the state government. In Connecticut, tribes pay the state 25 percent of their slot winnings, and no taxes on table betting or other revenue."
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=aBCWvuhieW14

Even better for them than I thought.

Yup, the first year they were open they didn't have slots, Gov. Weicker did a deal with them, basically by himself, which gave them slots for the 25%

They do about 2/3 of their take from slots and then 1/3 from table games.

can someone fill me in on what ept in natick is/was?

Eastern Poker Tour - Series of tournaments where players earn points and win prizes. At the end of the year there will be points tournaments for prizes and the potential to make a TV table.

http://www.easternpokertour.com/

That's legal?

For charity, kinda grey the way its run and I dont think the max rake is 5 in the cash game. They had 7 tables for the tourney.

Apparently the Tournaments are as they have been going on for at least 4 years that I know of and they are widely publicized. The cash games are another thing. Last place in Ma. that boasted about having cash games got shut down (Raynham). So, I do not believe cash games are legal.

Yea......snow storm killed the action.

The other problem, (if your a serious player).....because 30% (or something close to that) is taken out for the charity......it messes up what you would expect the payouts to be for a $150 BI 10K Guarantee at Foxwoods or MS.

Its obviously less, and they dont/cant pay as many players compared to the same tourney at FW/MS.......but its about the only option if you cant/dont want to trek down to FW/MS

Right. You lose a lot of $EV but you save a lot of time/gas/etc. It's up to you which is worth more.

Mass Casinos:
From what I have heard and read, there are currently 10 potential sites for the four potential licenses (3 casino, 1 slot parlor.) The Boston casino location is pretty much a lock considering the politics of the region. The other two are up for grabs, subject to the usual NIMBY wrangling.

Location - Partner

Boston Region
Boston (Suffolk Downs) - Unaffiliated

Southeastern Region
Fall River - ??? (I have heard this floated as a location, but no developer named yet)
New Bedford - KG Urban
Middleboro - Foxwoods
Raynham Dog Track - unaffiliated (possible location for slot parlor)
Foxboro - Wynn
Milford - Venitian

Western Region
Springfield - Ameristar
Holyoke (or other location) - Hard Rock
Palmer - Mohegan Sun
Brimfield - MGM
"Western MA" - Penn National

I think Suffolk is affiliated with Caesars?

Do we know if any/all of these locations will have Poker Rooms the day they open ? How many years do you all think it would be before the SouthEastern region sees a Casino.....(w/Poker Room).

I am thinking we are still a long way off.....

Foxboro and Milford are part of the Boston/Eastern region. It could turn into quite a fight between Suffolk and Foxboro if Kraft can change the mind of the locals.

Also, Plainville is angling for a slot parlor.

I have not seen anything from Ceasars or Suffolk Downs connecting the two. Has anyone seen a news article or press release?

I believe that CET has purchased some of SterlingSuffolks debt. Quite a bit. This is the same procedure used to buy debt/acquire Planet Hollywood. looking for old Google links as we speak.