After a couple of days ago MGM Resorts International called Connecticut Legislators to support its Bridgeport Casino Project, the global casino and gambling operator has renewed its call to state authorities to initiate a competitive bidding process for a gaming venue in Bridgeport.
The Indian tribes in the south-eastern part of Connecticut have already indicated they would be interested in joining such a bidding process. As a matter of fact, the tribes requested yesterday to be part of the discussion, which according to the Senior Vice President and Legal Counsel of MGM Resorts, Uri Clinton, would be great for everyone in the state. Mr. Clinton further explained that such a decision would be in the state’s best interest.
In letters to Connecticut’s Governor Dannel P. Mallow and state legislative leaders, Mr. Clinton shared that the Tribes saw the massive potential of a casino project in Bridgeport, which once again confirmed MGM Resorts’ analysis that the site was the best location for a commercial casino and the only location that would actually see an increase in the gaming revenue of Connecticut.
The Chairmen of the Mohegan and the Mashantucket Pequot tribes, which currently own the Mohegan Sun casino and Foxwoods Resort Casino, respectively, both sent letters in which they confirmed their willingness to become part of any discussions related to a Bridgeport casino.
The tribes won a legislative approval for their plan to join forces in order to develop a commercial casino in East Windsor. The gambling venue project has been considered as competition of the Springfield casino of MGM Resorts. The international gambling operator, however, opposed the bill which provided the tribes with the exclusive right to develop a third casino in the state of Connecticut and said that an alternative piece of legislation, which was seeking to establish competitive bidding for such a project, would be a better solution.
MGM Resorts Seeks Local Business’ Support
The two Indian tribes are given the exclusive right to operate slot machines across the state of Connecticut under gaming agreements inked decades ago with local authorities. In exchange for the exclusivity rights they got Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes are obliged to share part of their slot-machine revenues with the state. However, payments would end in case that another gambling operator gets a permission to operate a casino in Connecticut.
Back in September, MGM Resorts International revealed its Bridgeport plan, a $675-million casino and entertainment resort project that would provide approximately 7,000 jobs in the region. The casino and entertainment complex project is to feature 2,000 slot machines, 160 gaming tables, as well as a dining and retail area, 300-room hotel and a 700-seat theatre.
In case that the Bridgeport casino project gets the approval of local legislative officials, it would breach the above-mentioned slot agreements between the state of Connecticut and the local Indian tribes. That is why the global casino and gambling operator seeks the support of local businesses in order to change an important piece of legislation that would allow it to finally establish its $675- million Bridgeport casino.
- Author
Olivia Cole
