MGM Resorts International has made no bones about its intention to build a casino in the state of Massachussets, despite having already scrapped plans to build an all-inclusive, world-class, resort-style casino in Brimfield, Massachusetts earlier this year. But while the company is still determined to find alternative locations in western Massachusetts for the new casino, the first order of business was to voice its opinion against the state commission’s proposed bidding process.
In a recent letter addressed to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission that was released at a meeting a few days ago, MGM rebuked a suggestion that a process overhaul could be in order, particularly when it comes to the commission’s proposed bifurcated bidding process for casinos. MGM has argued that the commission’s proposed two-part bidding process could cut into “significant resources, time and money of the commission being expended unnecessarily.”
The commission released a letter regarding the proposed two-part bidding process and has sought comments from parties involved, including MGM, on how best to move forward in securing operating licenses in the state of Massachusetts. According to the proposal, casino operators would be required to pass financial and integrity checks before they can be permitted to submit their bids to gain a license, thus the two-step format.
But MGM Resorts points out that the companies the have shown an interest in building and operating casinos in the state are national operators that are already working with licenses in a number of other jurisdictions, elucidating the point that these companies already have up-standard quality records. Instead of a two-part bidding process, MGM suggested a single bid process for casinos, one that puts an emphasis on companies that can negotiate an agreement with the community where it plans to set up shop. Doing this, according to MGM, would be a more direct approach that would save time, money, and resources for all parties involved.
Despite MGM’s assertions, MGC commissioners Gayle Cameron and James McHugh are unsurprisingly more inclined in the commission’s proposed process, arguing that if everything runs as smoothly as expected, a two-part bid process wouldn’t necessarily take as much time and resources as MGM thinks.
“I don’t see where the bifurcated process would slow down the process,” said Cameron, as quoted on MassLive.com.
Still, MRM Resorts doesn’t see the purpose of having a two-part bid process. In its eyes, if you can cut the travel in half to get to the same destination, why take the longer – and potentially more expensive – route in the first place?
