Guv in Mashpee for Wampanoag casino compact celebration

Gov. Deval Patrick in Mashpee Thursday to meet with Wampanoag Tribe

Governor Deval Patrick joined Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell in addressing the Wampanoag Tribe Thursday in Mashpee. The governor was there to celebrate the Commonwealth's casino compact with the Tribe.   On July 30, the governor signed an agreement with the Tribe giving the state 21.5 percent of all gaming revenue. In return, the Tribe has exclusive rights to develop a gaming casino in Southeastern Massachusetts. 

The Tribe must now wait for the U.S. Department of the Interior to approve the compact and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ must give its permission to place the land into federal trust, before the tribe can move forward with its proposed $500 million casino in Taunton.

Chairman Cromwell introduced Deval Patrick, calling him the "best governor in the United States of America." The governor in turn, said the compact was forged in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation and that it represents the best interests of both the people of the Commonwealth and the people of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.

Video by David G. Curran.