A Suffolk County Superior Court late Thursday dismissed Boston's lawsuit aimed at stopping Wynn Resorts' planned $1.7 billion casino in neighboring Everett.
Judge Janet Sanders ruled the Massachusetts Gaming Commission acted properly in awarding a license to casino mogul Steve Wynn for the former Monsanto site. Boston Mayor Martin Walsh had argued that the facility would trigger massive congestion in Boston's adjacent Charlestown neighborhood, north of downtown.
Legally, the city had requested "host community" status for Boston – and thus more mitigation funding -- because the sole access to the site is through Charlestown.
Walsh's office said city officials are weighing an appeal, which means the protracted battle could be far from over.
"We are gratified by the judge's decision and believe it is a validation of the hard work and detailed effort put forth by the commission and its staff," Gaming Commission press officer Elaine Driscoll said in a statement.
Commonwealth officials, amid intense casino competition in the U.S. Northeast, hope to generate up to $400 million annually when three regional resort casinos are up and running. Gaming buildouts, meanwhile, loom in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The commission granted the license to Wynn over Mohegan Sun and Suffolk Downs race track – which straddles Boston and Revere – for the Greater Boston license, considered the most lucrative of three regional licenses created with state casino enabling legislation that passed in 2011. Mohegan Sun would have partnered with Boston to operate a casino on the Revere side of Suffolk Downs.
Sanders also dismissed Revere's lawsuit against the commission. The only harm to Revere, she said, was its loss of possible economic benefits had Mohegan Sun emerged as the winner.
