MGM declares war to tribal casino project

MGM Resorts International steps up its opposition to a proposed tribal casino project in Connecticut.

US.- MGM Resorts International is stepping up its opposition to a proposed tribal casino project in Connecticut which would help the tribes to face the competition the MGM’s planned US$950 million project in neighboring Massachusetts will pose for them.

MGM not only challenges the law which laid the groundwork for the possible satellite casino, but also proposed an amendment to a federal defense bill, which would have prevented tribes with casinos on tribal land, like Connecticut’s Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal nations, from opening a facility off-reservation in the same state.

In addition to filing the federal lawsuit and appealing a judge’s recent dismissal, MGM teamed up with a state-recognised tribe that filed a similar suit and has enlisted former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and a contingent of state lobbyists and public relations experts as well.

Alan Feldman, executive vice president of MGM Resorts International, said the company is not fighting the proposed satellite casino per se, but rather the process created by Connecticut to possibly allow a casino on non-tribal land, adding that other developers besides the tribes should be allowed to compete. “We’d like the ability to show that we think there is a better alternative,” Feldman said.

“MGM’s shameless tactics are well-documented,” declared Andrew Doba, a spokesman for the two tribes. “They will say anything, do anything, spend anything to protect their bottom line. And if they’re successful in Connecticut, more residents will find themselves in the unemployment line.”