Massachusetts gaming industry regulators have upheld arbitration awards intended to help communities cope with the impact of MGM’s proposed Springfield casino.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission Friday voted to deny the objections raised by MGM to millions of dollars in arbitration panel awarded payments to the Springfield suburbs of Longmeadow and West Springfield. MGM attorney Seth Stratton said the company wanted a future opportunity to review fixed annual payments intended to help the communities with traffic and public safety problems.
" There is a potential for a windfall. All we are asking to do is adjust the look-back so it can go both wasy."
MGM negotiated mitigation payments that included look-back provisions with a half dozen communities surrounding Springfield. The negotiated annual and upfront payment amounts are considerably less than what Longmeadow and West Springfield won in arbitration.
