The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has announced plans to include gaming machines in their new welcome center planned for Taunton, Massachusetts. According to Mayor Shaunna O'Connell, the facility will feature 10 gaming positions as a preview to the tribe's proposed First Light Resort & Casino.

The tribe can legally operate Class I and Class II gaming on their sovereign territory under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). While Class I includes traditional tribal gaming and social games, Class II permits bingo-based games, including electronic versions, played for money.

This development comes after a lengthy legal battle over the tribe's 321 acres of land in Taunton. In February 2023, a federal judge in Boston confirmed the land's trust status, solidifying the tribe's sovereign rights. The $1 billion casino project was previously partnered with Genting Group, which withdrew after prolonged legal challenges.

The welcome center will showcase tribal history and preview the First Light project. The tribe plans to present detailed blueprints to the Taunton City Council in early 2024. Currently, they are cleaning up the site and addressing $2.35 million in outstanding back taxes owed to the city.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, federally recognized in 2007, has ancestral ties to the first Thanksgiving. Despite their historical presence, their federal recognition journey and land trust status faced multiple reversals across different presidential administrations before being finally resolved.

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