Tribes welcome bill to advance casino stalled by Trump administration

Thursday, December 13, 2018  

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe are hoping to revive a casino that has been stalled by the Trump administration.

The tribes joined forces and gained state approval to build a new facility in Connecticut. To ensure that the development did not disrupt their existing casinos, they updated their gaming agreements with the state and submitted them to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for review.

The Trump administration, however, waited almost 10 months to publish notice of the Mohegan Tribe's agreement. Federal law otherwise requires a decision within 45 days.

But the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation's agreement remains in limbo. As part of an ongoing lawsuit, government attorneys have argued that the BIA isn't required to make a decision at all.

Rather than wait for that issue to be resolved in court, the tribes are welcoming the introduction of a bill in the Connecticut Legislature that would eliminate the need for the Mashantucket agreement to be approved by the Trump administration in Washington, D.C.

"This bill would make right something that should have been done long ago in D.C.,’’ a spokesperson for the tribes told The Harford Courant. “The tribes want nothing more than to continue their partnership with the state. We're grateful to the delegation for their ongoing support and look forward to working with them in the coming session."

The tribes had hoped to have their facility open by now. They chose a site in the city of East Windsor in order to compete with a commercial casino that was under development in neighboring Massachusetts.

MGM Resorts International, which has strongly opposed the tribes' efforts, opened its $950 million casino in August. It's located in Springfield, less than 15 miles from East Windsor.

Lawmakers will make new push to complete East Windsor casino (The Hartford Courant December 12, 2018) Osten, others introduce bill boosting East Windsor casino (The New London Day December 11, 2018)

Tribes see another decline in slot machine revenues in Connecticut (November 15, 2018)
News reports link Secretary Zinke's criminal woes to tribal gaming (November 1, 2018)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation seeks to revive gaming lawsuit (October 17, 2018)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation sees setback in case against Trump administration (October 2, 2018)
Tribes see dip in slot machine revenues as rival opens new facility (September 18, 2018)
Tribes see decline in slot machine revenues as they await new arrival (August 15, 2018)
Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes report mixed slot machine revenues (June 19, 2018)
Tribes plan to break ground on long-awaited casino in Connecticut (June 14, 2018)
Trump administration still mum on gaming agreement for Mashantucket Tribe (June 13, 2018)
Trump administration reverses course on tribal gaming agreement in Connecticut (June 4, 2018)
Online gaming also on the table as Connecticut negotiates with tribes (May 24, 2018)
Connecticut governor seeks to negotiate sports betting with tribes (May 22, 2018)
Mashantucket and Mohegan interested in pursuing casinos in Japan (May 16, 2018)
Mohegan Tribe gains sole ownership of $5 billion gaming project in Korea (May 9, 2018)
Non-Indian firm fighting tribes announces earlier opening date for casino (April 26, 2018)
Lawmakers from Connecticut prompted probe into handling of tribal agreements (April 25, 2018)
Tribes welcome probe into Trump administration's handling of gaming agreements (April 23, 2018)
Tribes still facing legal questions in bid for new casino in Connecticut (April 17, 2018)
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Tribes finally start demolition at site of delayed casino in Connecticut (March 6, 2018)
Tribes still planning to start work on delayed casino in Connecticut (February 28, 2018)
Trump team appears willing to delay tribal casino deal in Connecticut indefinitely (February 6, 2018)
Tribes ready to start initial work on delayed casino in Connecticut (February 2, 2018)
Former Interior Secretary Gale Norton lobbies against tribes' casino (February 1, 2018)