Casino workers at Connecticut’s two existing casinos rallied on Wednesday in front of the State Capitol to support a proposal for the construction of a new casino off tribal land in the town of East Windsor.
The proposed gambling venue will be operated jointly by the state’s two federally recognized tribes – the Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots – and if built, will come as a direct competition to MGM Springfield, a $950-million integrated resort currently under development in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Tribal officials have repeatedly pointed out over the past several years that the construction of the Massachusetts resort will hit severely Connecticut’s casino industry. As mentioned above, there are two operational casinos in the latter state at present, with each tribe running one.
The Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots believe that more than 9,000 workers at the two tribal casinos could lose their jobs as a result from MGM Springfield’s opening. The expensive casino resort is scheduled for a fall 2018 launch.
Connecticut’s two federally recognized tribes have urged the Legislature to give the necessary approval to their project, so as to be able to open their joint facility before MGM Springfield and thus blunt competition at least partially. According to tribal officials, the East Windsor casino will keep jobs and much-needed revenue within the state.
Located 20 minutes from Springfield, East Windsor could be host to a $300-million gambling venue on the site of the former Showcase Cinema. The two tribes have promised that once operational, their joint casino will contribute 25% of its slots revenue to state coffers. Connecticut’s two existing tribal casinos currently pay the same share of what their slot machines generate.
Connecticut’s Legislature has several bills on the casino matter on the table. One would give the green light to the construction of the East Windsor casino, another would reopen the whole process of selecting an operator and site for the state’s third gambling venue, and the third one would allow for the construction of a tribal casino in the northern part of the state and a commercial one in Southwestern Connecticut.
If a new call for bids is opened by lawmakers, this could mean that the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan Tribe may lose their right to operate a joint casino and another bidder could win that right. MGM Resorts International, the company behind MGM Springfield, has expressed interest in entering Connecticut’s casino market and has deemed the previous call for tenders one that was unfair and killed competition opportunities.
In a previous meeting between tribal officials and lawmakers, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz has told local media that the two tribes’ odds to be allowed to build their joint casino on non-reservation land stood at 50-50. It is to be seen how the Legislature would address the matter in the weeks to June 7, when it is set to adjourn for the current legislative session.
