MGM Resorts International is hoping opponents of the casino expansion in Connecticut would prevail and block the construction of a third gambling establishment on the territory of the small northern state.
Jim Murren, Chief Executive of MGM Resorts, allegedly wishes to ensure Connecticut lawmakers would not allow another gambling venue to be built, especially if it would be erected only 13 miles away from the company’s $950 million Springfield casino in the state of Massachusetts. MGM’s Springfield resort is expected to open doors in 2018.
This past week, the town of East Windsor signed a development agreement with the Mohegan and Mashantucket tribes of Connecticut (MMCT), allowing them to built a $350 million satellite gambling establishment on its territory. The new venue aims to compliment the Foxwoods and Mohegan resorts, built by Native American groups. Connecticut authorities allowed the tribal group to built their casino on non-sovereign grounds so that gambling revenue could be kept within the state.
However, this decision was met with strong opposition on behalf of members of the “No More Casinos in Connecticut” movement. The movement seeks to block the building of a third Connecticut casino and MGM would like to see them succeed.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy asked George Jepsen, the state’s Attorney General, to weigh in on the legality of MMCT building a gambling venue on off-reservation ground. Jepsen response was that according to the scheme developed by Malloy and the state’s legislature, the tribal group has the right to build another gambling venue under their current gaming licenses.
MGM argued that outside parties should be allowed to bid on the satellite location since the new casino is to be built outside the tribes’ sovereign property. The Nevada-based casino and resort operator went as far as to file a lawsuit against the state of Connecticut, citing the violation of the Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment as the reason.
However, building a gambling establishment in the town of East Windsor may prove to be beneficial for the local community. The deal would result in the town receiving the hefty sum of $3 million up front from the MMCT. Once the casino opens doors, the tribal groups would continue to pay the town $3 million per year. Since East Windsor is a relatively small town with 11,500 residents, that comes to about $260 per person each year.
The “No More Casinos in Connecticut” movement has scheduled a meeting in East Windsor for tonight in order to discuss with members of the local community the social and economic costs of building a casino in the region. The movement has cited the risks of debt, bankruptcies, and embezzlement as the main reasons for opposing the building of another gambling venue in the small state.
Robert Steele, former Connecticut Congressman, is also expected to give his opinion on the matter during the upcoming discussion. A meeting of the Board of Selectmen of East Windsor is also expected to take place this Thursday.
- Author
Daniel Williams
