The odds for a casino in Southeastern Massachusetts may be better than they have ever been, given the fact that legislation to expand gambling has been passed for the first time by the state House of Representatives, and the Senate seems likely to approve a similar bill.

At the same time, Middleboro officials are less confident than ever about the prospects for what was briefly viewed as the best chance for a casino anywhere in the Commonwealth: the casino resort project proposed for 539 acres of land in Middleboro by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. While commercial casinos are lining up for the licenses that will be issued by the state should the Legislature give its approval, the tribe is enmeshed in legal and financial issues. The details of the tribe’s dilemma and its plans for the future are unclear, and a private meeting where information might have been provided to the Middleboro selectmen was declined last week. But it is possible that the tribe, which has had talks with Fall River officials, could apply for a commercial license.

Get the rest of the Middleboro Gazette editorial on SouthCoastToday.com.