"This is simply a recognition of the industry competition, and where demand exists, and we're moving to meet that demand."
Kevin Brown
The chairmen of the Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots made overtures to the Hartford-area business community on Monday, taking questions on their plans for a third Connecticut casino.
The two appeared at an event organized by the MetroHartford Alliance, urging members to help them persuade legislators to pass a bill that will allow expanded gaming in the state.
Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown said that wherever they build a new facility, they will be in it for the long haul.
"This is not a stop-gap, last-gasp measure," Brown told the audience. "This is simply a recognition of the industry competition, and where demand exists, and we're moving to meet that demand. It will be finance-able, because those that follow the gaming industry recognize that this meets a demand."
Communities in East Hartford, East Windsor and Windsor Locks have all said they’re open to hosting a new convenience casino. The tribes hope it might stave off competition from MGM Springfield, which is due to open next year.
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler told business leaders he believes the jobs that a new casino would bring would be a bargain for the state.
"In recent history, the state -- and rightfully so -- has invested in several companies, either retaining them in the state, or bringing them into the state, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to create, in some cases, several hundred jobs," Butler said. "We're talking about no state investment to preserve thousands of jobs."
The tribes have already sponsored an economic analysis that claims casino competition from surrounding states could cost Connecticut upward of 9,000 jobs.
Foxwoods Secures Financing for Massachusetts Casino
A New York development firm proposing a Foxwoods resort casino on the New Bedford, Massachusetts waterfront said it has secured financing, and brought on former Foxwoods CEO Scott Butera as a partner.
KG Urban Enterprises said it is submitting the required financial and organizational information to the state gaming commission. The company proposes a $650 million casino on a former NStar power plant site. It is among three applicants vying for the state's last resort casino license, which is reserved for the southeastern region.
Building Relationships for New Casino in Rhode Island
Officials from the proposed Twin River casino have started building a relationship with the Rhode Island town targeted for the group's project.
Twin River Worldwide Holdings, which operates the gaming center in Lincoln, announced two weeks ago it had an agreement in principle to buy Newport Grand. The group wants to move its operation to Tiverton.
Twin River Chairman John Taylor met with citizens and town officials. He said he was at the meeting "with a clean slate," and hoped to get community input on the new casino's look, size, and amenities.
This report includes information from the Associated Press.
