Gaming and Horse Racing Project Proposed For Wareham

WAREHAM – The Notos Group announced an economic development proposal Tuesday afternoon in Wareham that contains a gambling component.

The project includes an electronic gaming area, a horse-racing track, a hotel, and a sports complex. The development would be built on a 275-acre parcel of land on Glen Charlie Road.

The 2011 Expanded Gaming Act dictates that Massachusetts can provide one more resort-based casino license, after the openings of MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor.

Managing Member of the Notos Group Tom O’Connell  explained that the site, located in Region C of the state according to the act, is not fully suited for a resort the size of Encore or MGM.

The gaming center would not include table games.

“That doesn’t make sense here in Wareham or, I think, make sense anywhere in Region C,” O’Connell said.

“But, that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be an appropriate level of electronic gaming, similar to the size of the license that’s in Plainridge Park. And that’s what we’re going for.”

“A full casino may not be viable in this market,” he said, “and that leaves Southeastern Massachusetts out of the running for the economic development opportunities, the jobs, the tax revenue generation, from which the rest of the state is benefiting.”

The Notos Group is proposing that the Legislature amend the current law to allow a smaller scale gaming center in Region C.

The group estimates that the project would generate over $50 million in revenue to the state, and over $5 million in annual revenue to Wareham.

They also project that more than 1,000 permanent jobs and 1,000 construction jobs would be created.

The sports complex would include a new field for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

The Notos Group pitched this project to the Wareham Board of Selectmen Tuesday night.

About Brendan Fitzpatrick

Brendan, a recent graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is one of the newest members of the CapeCod.com NewsCenter team. When not on the beat, you'll probably find him watching Boston sports.



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