Suffolk Downs Seeks Temporary Casino for 2008 Gaming

If Governor Patrick’s proposal is adopted, Suffolk Downs intends to seek a casino license and build a temporary casino in 2008. If the license if issued by April, gaming at Suffolk Downs will begin as early as July.

The racetrack will be kept, but about 180,000 square feet of the current facility will be used for the temporary casino. This will be the first of two phases. The second phase will build a casino, a hotel, and a theater to be finished by July 2013.

The final complex will have 4.5 million square feet with 5000 slot machine, 150 gaming tables, a 2000-seat theater, 1000 hotel rooms, 50 shops, a spa , a nightclub, 100,000 square feet of conference area, and additional entertainment facilities.

The temporary casino would generate faster revenues for the state. Other groups planning casinos in Massachusetts are not planning temporary casinos, so Suffolk Downs may have an early advantage in the market.

However, temporary casinos conflict with Govenor Patrick’s vision for destination resort casinos. His press secretary Kyle Sullivan issued a short statement on the issue: "It's contrary to the governor's plan for destination resort casinos, which focuses on economic development and creating good jobs and good wages. The administration would not be supportive of temporary casinos."

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