By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff  |  April 30, 2006

City Councilor George Rotondo wants to put out the welcome mat in Revere for a Cape Cod Indian tribe that soon may be looking for a place to build a casino.

In anticipation of the Mashpee Wampanoags gaining full federal recognition, Rotondo presented a request at Monday's City Council meeting to amend Revere's land-use ordinance to allow construction of a Class III casino gaming and entertainment complex in the city. He hopes this could facilitate the development of a casino at one of the local racetracks, Suffolk Downs or Wonderland.

While Rotondo said he wants the ordinance change to be in place to accommodate ''such a regional economic catalyst," critics of the proposal, including Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino, say no action is necessary at this point.

''I think it'll be a boon and a windfall for us and the surrounding communities," Rotondo said.

The 1,468-member tribe won preliminary federal recognition last month, triggering a one-year comment period. If the federal recognition stands, the tribe would gain sovereignty and the state would be required to negotiate a compact with the tribe involving gambling rights. Under current state law, the tribe would be allowed to seek land to establish a bingo-style casino, because bingo is legal in Massachusetts. Special state approval would be needed to build a full-scale Class III casino, like Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Councilors voted to send Rotondo's motion to their zoning subcommittee, which is to meet tomorrow, for further review. With slot-machine gambling at the state's racetracks in limbo, Rotondo said, introducing casino gambling at one of the tracks could be the solution to saving hundreds of local jobs.

The council this month had unanimously approved a motion by Rotondo that asks Ambrosino to request a meeting with the Wampanoags to discuss a casino in Revere. The mayor told the councilors Monday that he rejected their request because the tribe does not have permission from the state to build a casino anywhere, and that it would be a long time before they ever could. He added that the city does not own any land suitable for casino construction.

''I just thought at this point it's a waste of time to be talking to the Mashpee Wampanoags about casinos," Ambrosino said. ''They have a long way to go for them to operate a casino in Massachusetts."

Scott M. Ferson, a spokesman for the tribe, said the Wampanoags have taken no official position on building a casino, other than pledging they would not build a gambling facility on Cape Cod. Ferson said the tribe has not considered talking to any community in the state about a casino.

''I think they would consider it premature because it's not something that's allowed in Massachusetts, and we're concentrating on the recognition process," Ferson said.

Council president Arthur Guinasso agreed that Rotondo's ordinance change proposal is premature, albeit well-intentioned.

''I understand what direction he's coming from, but it really is way out at this particular time," Guinasso said. ''We can't even get the Legislature to go along with allowing slots" at the racetracks.

Changing the city's ordinances to reflect a desire for casino gaming also could signal desperation, Guinasso said.

''When someone wants to come to your community, you're not going to send out fliers, you're not going to give away the whole shop," Guinasso said. ''Telling everybody, 'We want you here,' etc., any possibility of mitigation is watered down severely. They'll say we're so desperate to have them, they won't have to give us anything; they won't mitigate."

But Rotondo questions those who question his timing. ''Frankly, the issue is, why isn't it the right time?

''They were talking about slot machines in 2001 and where are we now? Is it too soon? It's been five years and still no slot machines."

Councilor Daniel Rizzo, chairman of the zoning subcommittee, said Rotondo may be ''jumping the gun" but that his ordinance proposal is not a bad idea.

''Because if and when gambling is approved, at least we would have the option to allow it," Rizzo said. ''To me, in all honesty, while the tracks are hungry for the slots, I think it would have more appeal to the general public if they had full gaming instead of slots." Rotondo's motion, he said, ''is a little preliminary, but I don't think there's anything wrong with taking on the issue."

Although a bill that would have allowed slot-machine gambling at the state's four racetracks failed this month, Ambrosino said that is a more realistic route toward saving the tracks and the jobs.

Louis Ciarlone, president and business manager of Local 123 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local, which represents about 200 Suffolk Downs employees, said he appreciates Rotondo's efforts to try to save track jobs. Ciarlone added, however, that it would take a lot of work to get a casino in Revere.

''From my understanding of Indian casino gaming, they do need land, and that land is not transferable without the state's permission. . . . They can't just buy Suffolk Downs and build a casino.

''I know his heart is in the right place, and I wouldn't say whether it's the prerogative of the council, but it is a very, very complex matter, something that would take a tremendous amount of study."

Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com.