the racetrack owner felt that Wynn Resorts was not suitable for casino licensing and withheld information from state gaming regulators when applying for a casino license a few years ago. Wynn Resorts was awarded a license in the Greater Boston area, which resulted in the opening of the Encore Boston Harbor last year.
It is too late for Suffolk Downs to get the casino license, but the company wants to be compensated for losses they connect to Wynn Resorts obtaining the casino license.
Pay Damages
Sterling Suffolk Racecourse is focusing its efforts on a state case, claiming that Wynn Resorts caused major losses. The group wants to be compensated over $1 billion in damages due to losing out on obtaining the license themselves.
A federal court dismissed the case last year with the judge ruling that an adequate case was not provided to support the claims. The racecourse was claiming that Wynn Resorts took part in racketeering. However, last week, a state lawsuit was filed, looking for the same result.
The new lawsuit names Wynn Resorts as well as FBT Everett Realty LLC as the defendants. The realty company was the owner of the site where the casino now stands. For Sterling Suffolk, the company claims that Wynn Resorts was in violation of sate law when it applied for the casino license a few years ago. Supposedly, the company withheld information from the state Gaming Commission. The information they did not reveal, according to Sterling Suffolk, would have kept Wynn from receiving the license
Sterling says that protect the casino bid, Wynn interfered with the company’s relationship with the Mohegan Sun, a top casino operator, which had a detrimental effect on the company. Plans were in place for the Mohegan Sun to pay Sterling $35 million a year to use Suffolk Downs. This did not occur, according to Sterling.
Sterling also says that Wynn did not report problems within the company that would have stopped the licensing win. The company claims that Wynn Resorts had issues involving business partners in Macau as well as FBT Everett Realty tied to individuals with criminal records.
Eventually, Wynn Resorts won the license and created the Encore Boston Harbor. Sterling Suffolk hosted its last live horse race in 2019. For now, the Suffolk Downs facility only offers simulcast racing. A partner of Sterling Suffolk, Richard Fields, still hopes to see racing revived in its live form. He has joined efforts to bring racing back to the state via a new proposal for Sturbridge.
For now, it is unclear as to if the lawsuit filed against Wynn Resorts by Sterling Suffolk will be able to gain any ground. The main goal now is not to remove the casino license for compensation to be provided since the track is now suffering due to what they claim was the outcome of Wynn Resorts being named the licensing holder for the Boston area casino facility.
