Wynn’s casino plan for Foxborough rebuffed
A proposal to build a Wynn Resorts Ltd. casino adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., is facing an uncertain future after the town's Board of Selectmen voted to send a letter to governor's office and state gaming officials saying they don't want it.
Wynn Resorts has proposed a $1 billion casino on land leased from New England Patriots owner and Kraft Group founder Robert Kraft. The Boston Herald reported the nonbinding 3-2 vote late Tuesday doesn't kill the casino proposal, but the two companies would have to request a townwide vote.
Wynn Resorts would also have to ask two-thirds of residents to overturn current zoning laws that prohibit casinos in Foxborough. Wynn Resorts founder Steve Wynn is scheduled to present his plan to town executives and residents on Jan. 10, and his company on Wednesday said the town board vote isn't the end of the process.
"We're disappointed with the board's decision to deny Foxborough taxpayers the due process they are entitled under the state's gaming law," Wynn Resorts and the Kraft Group said in a statement. "We have not made any decisions regarding next steps."
In a letter recently sent to approximately 8,000 registered voters in Foxborough, Wynn said he understands some residents "are fearful when they hear the word casino."
"That is not our business," he wrote.
In his bid to win approval for a Massachusetts gaming license, Wynn has argued a casino is only a "small portion" of a resort's overall square footage and makes it possible to build luxury amenities. Wynn said his Las Vegas-based company builds five-star hotels, offering spas, entertainment, and restaurant and convention facilities that attract people "in pursuit of an experience."
A five-star hotel doesn't seem to be on Foxborough's wish list. During a long meeting Tuesday, residents at times heckled the selectmen, while others compared Wynn and Kraft to "great white sharks" circling the small New England town, the Herald reported.
Though casino backers argued the proposed resort would bring jobs, not everyone was swayed by the allure of economic development. Local physician David Egilman predicted a casino would be good for his business because it would lead to an influx of patients with sexually transmitted diseases, gambling addiction and alcoholism, the Herald reported.
Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at
csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.
