Artist's rendering of MGM Springfield casino in western Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission issued a casino license to MGM Resorts International on Friday, a move that will bring more competition to tribal casinos in neighboring Connecticut. MGM plans to spend $800 million on a facility in Springfield, in the western part of the state. The site is less than 65 miles from the casinos owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe. "This oligopoly that has existed for too long makes folks a little less competitive than they would otherwise be. We can out-entertain anybody in this industry, certainly anyone in Connecticut," Chairman and CEO Jim Murren said on Friday, according to news reports."We will not only bring the money back to Massachusetts, we'll get some of that Connecticut money up here. And that's our goal."
MGM expects to open the casino sometime in 2017. Construction won't begin until the state courts resolve a lawsuit that could repeal H.3702, the Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act.
Get the Story:
Final Vote Gives Casino License To MGM In Springfield
(The Hartford Courant 6/14)
MGM Springfield to become 1st Massachusetts casino as Gaming Commission votes to grant company delayed license
(The Springfield Republican 6/14)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe still waiting on casino land ruling (6/13)
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