The tribe sought to build a gaming property in Fall Riverseveral years ago but the town voted against the plan. A townofficial tells GlobeSt.com that he thinks Wampanoag tribe is"currently seeking to locate a casino in Worcester." The tribe issaid to have hired lobbyists to campaign for approval of a casinoventure and reportedly is discussing the idea with Massachusettslawmakers.

But House speaker Thomas M. Finneran has made it clear that hewill not support the tribe's proposal. According to CharlesRasmussen, Finneran's spokesperson, the speaker is concerned thatthe revenue stream from the state lottery - which is earmarked foreducation - will be impacted by the development of a casino. "Thetowns count on that money and we count on it," Rasmussen tellsGlobeSt.com. "He wouldn't want to affect that source and it isfairly clear that gambling affects revenue from lottery."

Rasmussen adds that while tax revenues from the casino mightcompensate for some lottery losses, it is not clear if the dollaramounts are equivocal. "Because of that confusion, there is noreason to go ahead unless there are many states around us that havecasinos. But that is not now the case." Currently, Connecticut,with the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun resorts, is the only New Englandstate with full casino gambling.