Suffolk Downs not interested in Massachusetts casino license

In Massachusetts, the firm behind the Suffolk Downs horseracing facility near Boston has reportedly announced that it does not intend to renew its bid for a casino license even if the eastern state’s gaming regulator decides to rescind an earlier such license that was granted to Wynn Resorts Limited.

Unequivocal rejection:

According to a report from the Boston Herald newspaper, the revelation came from Chip Tuttle, Chief Executive Officer for Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC, as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission continues with an investigation to determine whether Wynn Resorts Limited had been suitable to receive the casino license for its soon-to-open Encore Boston Harbor venue.

Reportedly read a statement from Tuttle…

“That ship has sailed. We’re not a player if it opens back up. We’re not interested.”

Ongoing inquiry:

The newspaper reported that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission initiated its inquiry into Wynn Resorts Limited last year following the emergence of several sexual assault allegations against the firm’s former Chief Executive Officer, Steve Wynn. The regulator is seeking to determine whether the Las Vegas-headquartered operator had been suitable to receive the 2014 license at the same time as being led by the 77-year-old casino magnate.

License at stake:

The examination could ultimately result in Wynn Resorts Limited losing the license for its Encore Boston Harbor facility although the casino firm’s current boss, Matt Maddox, stated last month that the $2.6 billion casino resort for the suburban community of Everett remains on course to open from June 23.

Legal proceedings:

The newspaper reported that Sterling Suffolk Racecourse had lost out to Wynn for the sole Boston-area casino license in 2014 and subsequently filed a lawsuit against its rival seeking $1 billion in damages. The plaintiff’s action purportedly contends that its foe had violated the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization Act and had moreover conspired to hide information from regulators during the license selection process.

Tuttle told the Boston Herald that Wynn had taken ‘affirmative steps to withhold information’ and as a result had ‘tainted’ the license application process. He also declared that the lawsuit is only ‘an effort to collect damages’ rather than an attempt to bring casino-style gambling to the horseracing facility near Boston.

Defendant’s defiance:

Wynn has responded to this action by filing a number of dismissal motions while describing the complaint as ‘devoid of any allegations of legal consequence.’ However, last month saw the operator pay a record-setting fine of $20 million to regulators in Nevada in order to settle claims that it had failed to properly investigate the sexual misconduct allegations that were levied against Wynn.