The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) public hearings each week have become must-watch streaming.
The Commission held its fifth hearing (more than 18+ hours) on Monday regarding Raynham Park's bid for a retail Massachusetts sports betting license. The MGC ruled it cannot proceed any further on its Category 2 retail sports betting license application until it finds an operating partner, delaying one of the largest proposed retail sportsbooks (30,000 square feet) in the nation.
Raynham Park is a former greyhound track, south of Boston.
As of Aug. 17, Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts terminated its operating lease agreement with Massasoit Greyhound Association (MGA) that spelled out terms and conditions for it to operate the proposed location at Raynham Park. They also filed a request to withdraw as a qualifier to operate the sportsbook. It would be the fourth retail site for Massachusetts sports betting.
Lead Up to Caesars Stepping Down
This was after the MGC voted Aug. 1 to delay the license review for two weeks, culminating in last Friday's announcement. The two previous hearings on the application were held on June 12 and June 20 for a complete timeline.
As of Tuesday morning, the MGC does not have any future public hearings on their website.
The delay was prompted over a request made by Raynham Park’s parent company - MGA - to withdraw Christopher Carney as a qualifier. MGA asked that Carney and a trust involving Carney be withdrawn as an applicant after a report was issued by the Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB).
The removal of Carney and his related trusts as qualifiers was agreed upon and approved on Monday.
The track record of Carney, the son of long-time Raynham Park owner George Carney, no longer will be an issue if and when the application for a retail sportsbook continues.
Details of the MGC's Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) investigation into the Carney family were made public last Friday, finding several violations cited by the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) concerning the handling and disposal of hazardous and/or construction-related materials.
These were never disclosed during the process and were brought to the public attention during last Friday's hearing.
With no new operating partner in place, the license application and the future of Raynham Park are up in the air.
BetMassachusetts.com will be sure to bring you any developments as well as, of course, provide the best Massachusetts betting promos.
