Palmer residents confident despite talk of Springfield casino

PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) - Residents of Palmer are paying close attention to the casino plans in Springfield.

Mohegan Sun's proposal for the eastern Hampden County town was the first and Palmer plans to be the first community in the state to meet the criteria to vie for the western Massachusetts license.

Supporters in town are still confident that their plan is the strongest.

"Palmer's been forefront and I really think Palmer should get the casino built,” town resident Tony Constantine said. “You've been seeing it for years, every sidewalk and street corner they're talking about the casino in Palmer."

Mohegan Sun Palmer is a proposed $600 million dollar project on land they own right off Mass Pike Exit 8.

Under the state’s new gambling law, the Gaming Commission can approve one casino license for a project in the western region of the state, which includes all of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties. One license each may be issued in southeastern Massachusetts and central/northeastern Massachusetts, which includes the Boston area.