Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Stephen Crosby was in Plainville, Mass. for the opening of the Plainridge Park Casino — the first casino to open in the Commonwealth since voters approved them in 2011. Crosby joined BPR to talk about the rollout.
Have you had a chance to see the new Doug Flutie restaurant in Plainridge Park Casino?
I've wandered through it, and it's the most incredible re-creation of a Hail Mary pass that you've ever seen. They actually have a cast of Jerry Phelan's hands reaching out, [...] and 60 yards out you have a [spot] where Fluties's feet were! [...] There's a bunch of other connections with history in the local area.
Sometimes when you hear the word 'casino' you think of a dingy, smoky place. Plainridge Park seems to be a lot nicer. Is that your impression?
When you hear the word 'slots parlor' it evokes a certain image. [It's] just an incredibly unattractive image. [...] That's why they call this a casino. You walk into it, it's airy, it's bright, it's fun, there's no smoking. [...] There is this old model which is, you create this box, and you lock people into it, basically.
Why are we so confident that Plainridge Park will be profitable?
There is common thought across the industry that this will be a uniquely busy facility. [...] It's small. It's only 1,250 machines, and that's a monopoly in Massachusetts, and number two, there's nobody else around here. So, the stock for Penn National has been favorably affected by this facility.
When do you expect the Springfield casino to open?
We're actually talking about this at length tomorrow. They're going to come in and give us a proposal on the schedule tomorrow. It is 2018 almost for sure. [...] If we think there are troubles we will do something about it.
When do you expect the Wynn casino in Everett to open?
It's looking like 2018, but there's also a big variable there. As you know, the city of Boston has been resisting this pretty strenuously. [The traffic problem is a] nightmare in Sullivan Square, which has eluded transportation officials for decades. [...] Finally we could solve that and unlock not only Everett [but the surrounding area].
You were recently cleared of an ethics violation. Can we assume that wasn't a pleasant process?
That's not been my favorite part of this job.
Do you know who filed the complaint?
It's in the public record that I do know who filed the complaint.
>>To hear the entire conversation with Mass. Gaming Chair Stephen Crosby, click the audio above. Questions in this interview are paraphrased, and Crosby's responses are edited where noted [...].
