Tribes plan to break ground on long-awaited casino in Connecticut

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Artist's rendering of a new casino to be jointly owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe in East Windsor, Connecticut. Image: CT Jobs Matter

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe plan to break ground on their new casino in Connecticut this fall despite being kept in the dark by the Trump administration.

The tribes envision a 188,000 square-foot facility with about 1,800 slot machines, 50 table games and 10 poker tables. They submitted updated renderings to the city of East Windsor on Wednesday as part of the process.

“From the start, we pledged to create a world class facility that will be a draw for people throughout the entire region,” Mashantucket Chairman Rodney Butler said in a press release. “These renderings help bring to life our vision for this site, and we thank the town for working with us every step of the way through the local approval process.”

“This gaming and entertainment facility will create jobs and will provide additional revenue to the state at a time when every dollar is precious,” added Mohegan Chairman Kevin Brown. “We are full steam ahead and excited by the tremendous progress we’ve made to date.”

Artist's rendering of a new casino to be jointly owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe in East Windsor, Connecticut. Image: CT Jobs Matter

The tribes do not need federal approval to open the casino, which was authorized under state law. But they submitted new gaming agreements to the Trump administration in order to preserve their existing relationship with the state.

Ten months later, notice of the Mohegan Tribe's agreement was finally published in the Federal Register on June 1. But the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is still in the dark.

Despite the uncertainty, the tribes eventually expect to move forward. Once construction starts this fall, the casino is projected to open in the spring of 2020.

East Windsor is far from the tribes' reservations, where each operates a casino. But it's not close to the border with Massachusetts, where a $950 million commercial gaming facility is opening in August.

The tribes had hoped to complete their development around the same time. Delays at the federal level made that impossible.

Read More on the Story:
East Windsor Casino Takes Shape In New Renderings (The Hartford Courant June 13, 2018)
Tribes update East Windsor casino drawings, seek zoning approvals (The New London Day June 13, 2018)
East Windsor Planning Board May Vote Next Week On Casino Plan (The Hartford Courant June 14, 2018)
E. Windsor casino blueprint revealed; groundbreaking in fall (Hartford Business June 14, 2018)
New renderings released for proposed East Windsor casino (WTNH June 14, 2018)
Renderings offer first look at proposed East Windsor Casino (The Springfield Republican June 14, 2018) $P Federal Register Notice:
Indian Gaming; Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact Taking Effect in the State of Connecticut (June 1, 2018)

Related Stories:
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)
Trump administration hit for keeping two tribes in Connecticut in the dark (April 6, 2018)
Mohegan Tribe on track to complete convention center at casino (March 29, 2018)
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)