The mayor of Boston is challenging the authority of state gaming regulators to decide if Boston residents should have a say on two proposed casinos.
Mayor Martin Walsh asserts Boston is a host community for casinos proposed in neighboring cities by Wynn Resorts and Mohegan Sun. Host communities can negotiate lucrative development deals with the casino operators and a local vote is mandated before the projects can move forward. In an appearance before the state gaming commission an attorney for the city, Thomas Frongillo, said the commission may lack jurisdiction to decide the issue.
"I do think there is a legal issue about where and how the question of host community status should be resolved."
The dispute threatens to delay the licensing of a resort casino in eastern Massachusetts. The gaming commission is expected to award the western Massachusetts license to MGM Springfield in May.
