Boston won't 'host' Wynn casino plan

BOSTON (AP) - The city of Boston has dropped its request to be considered as a potential host community for a resort casino proposed by Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn in neighboring Everett.

The state gambling commission announced at its meeting on Friday that Boston had agreed instead to accept the status as a surrounding community, which under the state's casino law will allow the city to negotiate compensation from Wynn but will not give Boston a direct say or vote in whether the project goes forward.

The agreement is a significant victory for Wynn. Had Boston been designated as a host community, Wynn would have been forced to negotiate a host community agreement with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino - an unlikely prospect given Menino's strong support for a competing casino plan at Suffolk Downs.

Cox Media Group