Two More Cities Join Bidding Process For Connecticut’s Third Casino

MMCT Venture, the joint venture entity comprising two of Connecticut’s Native American tribes has agreed to consider proposals from two more towns as it works towards finalizing the site for the state’s third tribal casino.

East Windsor and South Windsor are the two new entrants to the bidding process, joining other cities like Windsor Locks, East Hartford and Hartford. The tribes reopened the process last month after existing applicants from the initial round sent in amendments to their submitted plans.

The two tribes the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan Sun have pushed for a satellite casino to counter competition from the under-development MGM Springfield casino coming up across the border in Massachusetts. According to the tribes the new MGM casino is likely to take away thousands of jobs and millions of revenue. The Mashantucket Pequot tribe operates the Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Mohegan’s run the Mohegan Sun casino.

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The tribes intend to invest around $200 million to $300 million for the development of the new facility. MGM Resorts International again highlighted its opposition to the casino project, calling the process a sham.

In a statement, Alan Feldman, an MGM executive vice president said

As a result of the passage of Special Act 15-7, the state is forced to let MMCT do whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and however it wants. If the state really wants to maximize the revenue and jobs associated with its first commercial casino, it should repeal 15-7 and do what every other state does: have a fair, open, transparent, competitive process

MGM has taken several measures to challenge the casino project including suing the state authorities. South Windsor's proposal offers a vacant development lot along I-291 for the casino, according to Matthew Galligan, the town manager. The city is partnering with an international construction firm DCK Worldwide, which has claimed prior experience in hospitality and retail projects among others.

This is East Windsor’s second bid for the casino. Its first bid was rejected after the developer involved in the bid allowed options for a proposed site to lapse. The latest bid offers land off I-91 which is on sale. Kevin Brown, chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council, said that the tribes looked forward to reviewing the new proposals from the two cities and comparing them with the amended plans from existing applicants.

Developers working on East Hartford's proposal have submitted the revised site plan to the tribes and said they will be posting the updated plan onto their website shortly.

Adrian Sterne

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