- The First Light Welcome Center has expanded its gaming hours
- The tribal gaming venue comes from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
- The tribe hopes to build a larger, permanent tribal casino in East Taunton
The First Light Welcome Center in Massachusetts’ East Taunton, which offers 50 electronic bingo machines, is expanding its operating hours.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, one of two federally recognized tribes in Massachusetts, opened its First Light Welcome Center in January. At the time, the modular facility housed 10 slot-like bingo terminals.
The 2,200-square-foot structure at 1 O’Connell Way in East Taunton has since expanded to include 50 Class II gaming machines, which federally recognized tribes can house on their sovereign lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). Officials with the Mashpee Tribe say turnout has been strong, which has prompted the facility to expand its operating hours.
As of April 19, the First Light Welcome Center’s gaming machines are powered on seven days a week from 10 am until 6 pm.
“To provide even more access to our guests, the Welcome Center will be open seven days a week. Let’s keep the good times rolling!” the tribe said in a social media post.
Along with the gaming machines, the Welcome Center provides materials promoting what the tribe has in store for its permanent gaming operation.
Southeast Massachusetts Casino
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has been seeking self-sufficiency for years through the development of a tribal casino in Taunton.
The tribe’s years-long pursuit resulted in the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) opting not to issue the commercial casino license for Region C that was authorized through the state’s 2011 Expanded Gaming Act. While the MGC approved Wynn Resorts’ bid for Region A in Everett near Boston and MGM Resorts’ bid for Region B in Springfield, the Commission held off on allocating the concession reserved for the counties of Bristol, Plymouth, Nantucket, Dukes, and Barnstable.
The MGC believes a commercial and tribal casino in Southeastern Massachusetts would oversaturate the region. The Mashpee, which once floated a $1 billion integrated resort casino development with Malaysian gaming giant Genting, is currently seeking financiers for a considerably smaller gaming-only facility.
For the tribe to offer slots similar to those found at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park, the tribe would need to apply for the Region C license as a commercial casino or seek to enter into a Class III gaming compact with the state to allow the tribal casino to include slots, live dealer table games, and sports betting.
The tribe is currently committed to operating its permanent First Light Casino as a tribal entity.
As part of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s vision for economic growth and community development, we’re preparing to launch First Light Casino, a full-scale Class III gaming resort that will bring Vegas-style thrills to East Taunton. First Light Casino will introduce cutting-edge slot machines, live blackjack, poker, and roulette, high-stakes table games, gourmet dining, vibrant nightlife, and world-class entertainment and events,” the tribe said.
“First Light Casino is more than a gaming destination — it’s a key part of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s commitment to economic sustainability, creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and strengthening the Tribe’s future for generations to come,” the tribal release continued.
Tribal Roots
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe only gained federal recognition in 2007. However, the tribe claims it’s among the oldest Indian communities in North America, with its ancestors breaking bread with the Pilgrims during the first Thanksgiving.
The People of the First Light, as the Mashpee go by, assert that they helped the Pilgrims survive after the English settlers arrived on their shores.
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