Groups clash over Revere, Everett casino proposals

REVERE – Everett gambling proponents scoff at their Revere rival’s plan, calling it a “casino next to a decrepit race track,” and Suffolk Downs-Mohegan Sun casino developers say their plan – not Wynn Resorts – is the one most capable of pouring the cash into the state treasury.Welcome to the war of words between Eastern Massachusetts casino advocates.Mohegan Sun, boasted public relations spokesman Laura Wareck in a statement, “is one of the world’s most successful casino companies.” But a “coalition of local residents and business leaders” supporting an Everett casino in a rival statement praised “Wynn’s global reputation for quality.””Once you know the facts, there’s really no comparison between these two projects,” stated Joanne DeMato of Everett United.That’s a statement Wareck agreed with – up to a point – “there is no comparison between these two projects – we believe it’s very clear that Mohegan Sun Massachusetts is a far superior choice.”The $1.3 billion Mohegan proposal includes two hotels on 42 of Suffolk Downs’ 52 acres in Revere with 500 hotel rooms and 170,000 square feet of gambling built around the horse race track. Wynn is proposing a 550-room hotel, restaurants and gambling in a complex overlooking the Mystic River.Wynn and Suffolk-Mohegan won votes in Everett and Revere supporting their proposals; now they have to win the votes of five state gaming commissioners, who are scheduled to make a decision by June 30 on which casino plan will get licensed.The Suffolk-Mohegan Sun casino, stated Wareck, “is projected to generate more gross gaming revenue and higher gaming taxes for the Commonwealth than Wynn Everett.””Our project has the support of the region’s business and elected leaders, (it) is shovel ready and requires no tax breaks or changes in the gaming legislation to proceed,” Wareck stated.Everett United supporters, in a statement, said Wynn “expects that nearly 35 percent of its revenue will come from international visitors and tourists from outside the region.””Which is the better plan for Massachusetts taxpayers?” the group asked.The rival casino developers are even arguing over who will give gamblers and resort-goers a better hotel experience. Everett United’s statement boasts about Wynn’s record-setting five star awards for its casino hotels, while Wareck stated that Suffolk-Mohegan plans to make their proposed hotel “a signature feature of our project.”Mayors in the competing cities have jumped into the word war. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, in a letter released hours after Revere voters approved the Suffolk-Mohegan plan on Feb. 25, stated “there’s no comparison” to Wynn’s “international drawing power or financial strength in the industry.”Revere Mayor Daniel Rizzo on Monday said one in six people living within a 75-mile radius of Boston “has a player’s card from Mohegan Sun.” Mohegan – not Wynn – is already a gambling presence in New England, said Rizzo.”Our proposal has it all over the Everett proposal,” Rizzo said.Revere and Everett voters will voice their views on the casino proposals at Gaming Commission “public input meetings” – one on the Revere plan scheduled for March 25, 4 p.m., in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., room 104, and a similar meeting on the Wynn proposal to be held March 26 at the same time in the same location.