Freetown To Vote on Aquinnah Casino in May

According to an article on the Cape Cod Times website, the town clerk of Freetown announced today that, “Selectmen have set a date of May 29 for a town-wide vote on a proposal by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to build an Indian casino in that town.”

Aquinnah spokesman James McManus said that tribe officials are planning to meet with the Freetown chairman of the board of selectmen on Thursday. McManus also informed the Times that the tribe would reveal the land it has under agreement in the town at that time.

“Meanwhile, the Aquinnah will also meet with Thursday night and Fall River city leaders on Friday to discuss proposals in those towns, McManus said. The tribe has not yet settled on which city or town it will land in and is keeping its options open, he said,” reported the Times.

that they had not met the guidelines of the state’s casino law and would need to provide more specifics in order to begin talks with the state.

At that time, Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, chairwoman of the Aquinnah, issued a statement saying, “The letter requests details on a proposed site and host town vote, and we are in the process of responding to the governor.”

According to the Times, the Aquinnah are still looking into multiple casino companies. According to McManus, they haven't settled on a partner yet.

Currently, the Mashpee Wampanoag and the Patrick administration have begun compact negotiations on Mashpee’s proposed casino in Taunton.