Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler. Photo from Facebook
Connecticut's two federally recognized tribes received five proposals on Friday from four communities that are interested in hosting a new casino. The four communities -- East Hartford, East Windsor, Hartford and Windsor Locks -- are all located along a major highway that leads to Massachusetts. A casino there would help the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe address competition from a commercial casino in the neighboring state. The tribes will now review the options -- two were submitted by Windsor Locks -- and select a host community by December 15 according to the request for proposals. They will then seek approval from the Connecticut Legislature for the new facility, ideally early next year. "Our mission hasn't changed," Chairman Rodney Butler told The Hartford Courant. "We want this facility to be located in a community that wants us there and values the jobs and revenue we'll bring." The tribes have said they could open a casino within 12 to 15 months of receiving final approval for the site. That means they would be far ahead of the $800 million commercial facility in Springfield, Massachusetts, which isn't due to open until September 2018 at the earliest. The new Connecticut casino, to be operated by the MMCT Venture, would be smaller than the casinos that the tribes operate on their respective reservations in the southeastern part of the state. Get the Story:
Tribes Accept Five Casino Proposals From Four Towns (CT News Junkie 11/6)
Connecticut tribes receive 5 site proposals for new casino (Fox61 11/6)
MM4CT Casino”Request for Proposal” process changed week of deadline (WWLP 11/6)
Deadline Passes for Connecticut Tribal Casino Proposals (WNPR 11/6)
Casino Competition Increases As Deadline Looms Friday (The Hartford Courant 11/6)
At Deadline, Four Towns, Five Proposals For Third Casino (The Hartford Courant 11/7)
Casino Proposal Stirring Mixed Emotions In East Hartford (The Hartford Courant 11/7)
Enfield Mall Not Among Casino Proposals But Mayor Still Has Concerns (The Hartford Courant 11/7)
OTB Operator Submits Casino Proposal For Windsor Locks (The Hartford Courant 11/8)
Connecticut casino proposals don’t need town approval just yet (WWLP 11/9)
Proposed casino receives five bids in four towns (The Hartford Business Journal 11/9)
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