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Town Votes Against Indian Gaming Plan

STURBRIDGE, MA-Area residents are banding together to oppose the possibility of an American Indian casino being built here. The Nipmuc Indians have an option to purchase 300 acres that straddle this town and Union, CT but are waiting to receive federal recognition as a tribe.

By Naomi Grossman | Updated on September 10, 2001

STURBRIDGE, MA-Town officials here do not want an American Indian tribe to develop a casino here and have started–along with neighboring towns–to take measures to prevent it from succeeding. Selectmen here have voted to oppose any casino in this area and have joined a local coalition being formed to fight the possibility.

According to town administrator James Malloy, the Nipmuc Indians are interested in siting a casino on 300 acres that straddle this town and Union, CT with the bulk of the property–225 acres–in Sturbridge. The Pontbriand family currently owns the land but the Nipmucs have an option to purchase it. Malloy tells GlobeSt.com that George Pontbriand claims the option was secured through a third party and he had no idea to whom he was granting the option.

In nearby Southbridge, the town council is expected to vote shortly on a resolution opposing a casino in this area. Reportedly, the town will also look into a strategy to negotiate impact fees if a gaming facility is built. In Charlton, another neighboring town, selectmen soon will hold their first discussion on the potential impact of a casino. Malloy says that Sturbridge just sent a “sent a flurry of letters asking their congressmen to get involved” in the issue.

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