REVERE — Action by Suffolk Downs’ owners this week brings them a step closer to building a casino that will hire Revere residents and expand local business opportunities, said the president of the Revere Chamber of Commerce.
“I’m feeling good about it; jobs are the big plus,” said Robert Upton of Suffolk’s initial gaming license application.
Upton said Suffolk’s casino proposal is important because Revere historically relied on the Suffolk and Wonderland racetracks and Revere Beach to attract out-of-town visitors interested in spending money locally.
In a statement released Monday, Suffolk representatives said they transacted “the first part” of their gaming licensing application with the state.
Suffolk’s owners, according to the statement, are prepared to “provide updates on opportunities for local businesses, public safety programs and regional tourism initiatives.”
“It’s an exciting time for Revere and surrounding communities,” Upton said.
Suffolk’s owners are seeking a gaming license from the state Gaming Commission to operate a resort casino with its partner, Caesars Entertainment. Track executives last June unveiled a $1 billion proposal that included initial plans to build a casino and hotel at the horse track.
Their plan includes hiring 2,500 union construction workers to build the casino and hiring 4,000 casino employees. The proposal also calls for the casino to feature 200,000 square feet of gaming space, according to the statement, including 4,000 to 5,000 slot machines, 200 table games and up to 10 restaurants as well as entertainment.
“This is an economic development initiative that will set the standard for gaming development in Massachusetts, and will create thousands of new jobs with real career paths and room for advancement,” Suffolk principal owner Richard Fields said.
Suffolk Chief Operating Officer Chip Tuttle last June said the track was a year away from receiving a licensing decision from the state. Track owners last August paid the state a $400,000 application fee and the application filed this week listed Fields, Tuttle and other key individuals involved in the casino project, including Caesars executive Gary Loveman.
Revere Mayor Daniel Rizzo last week said city officials plan to complete work on a host agreement between the city and Suffolk Downs later this month. The agreement will spell out ways the casino will benefit Revere.
“It will have huge impacts on the city,” he said.
City Councilor at large Brian Arrigo noted that agreements forged by other communities hosting casinos spell out how much money the community receives from the casino, including an annual, bottom line payment plus a revenue percentage.
Arrigo said a payment arrangement is important to Revere because the money the city receives from Suffolk will offset property, room and meals tax payments the casino pays to the city of Boston. Once he releases the agreement, Rizzo said he will ask Arrigo and fellow councilors to schedule a citywide referendum vote approving or rejecting a Suffolk casino.
Arrigo wants local residents and officials to have plenty of time to review a host agreement.
“I’ll advocate for 90 days. A lot of discussion on whether or not there is a casino is based around this agreement,” he said.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].
