MG&E unveils us$ 240 million project in Massachusetts

The proposed plot of land for the casino is in Green Island neighborhood near Kelly Square and the Canal District. Mass Gaming & Entertainment, an affiliate of Rush Street Gaming wants a build a slots parlor style casino and applied for the single Category 2 gaming license in the state. 

A casino in Worcester would be Rush Street Gaming's fourth casino. It also operates the SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, and the Rivers Casinos in Pittsburgh and the Chicago area. Rush Street Gaming officials believe the casino can be an economic driver for the city and that the investment will pay off in the along run, while others have raised concerns. 

“We believe this casino will be a catalyst for substantial economic development for the city and the Green Island neighborhood, as we have seen with our other properties,” said Greg Carlin, CEO of MG&E in a press release. “Worcester is the best location in Massachusetts for the Category 2 license and we are excited about the opportunity to work with the city and the community on this proposal which will reinvigorate this long dormant site and enhance the Canal District.”

City Councilors Konstantine Lukes and Sarai Rivera have both voiced their opposition to the casino, along with Roberta Schaefer, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. The President of Assumption College also said the college does not support bringing a casino to the city. 

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, councilors voted to allow City Manager Michael O'Brien to begin talks with Mass Gaming & Entertainment about the community host agreement. Opponents to the proposed casino petitioned the city council earlier this week to not begin talks with the casino. If a community host agreement is reached, the city will need to set up a vote no less than 60 days and no more than 90 days after. 

Mass Gaming & Entertainment says the casino project could bring in about 600 permanent jobs at the casino and the hotel as well as hundreds of construction jobs.