MGM fails to stop Connecticut tribal casino

MGM’s rehearing for its appeal against a state law authorising a tribal casino in Connecticut has been rejected by the US Court of Appeals.

US.- The joint venture by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes lives on as the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals has denied MGM Resorts’ bid for a rehearing of its appeal that seeked to overturn a state law that authorised the third venue in the state. The bid was originally rejected in June and the new ruling against the casino giant was made public yesterday by

The MMCT venue planned for East Windsor will continue to be challenged by MGM, despite a spokeperson, when asked for comment, just referred to a previous statement made by MGM senior vice president and legal counsel Uri Clinton: “As we have been saying all along, we believe this new law violates both the state and United States constitutions, and we will continue to argue our case vigorously in court,” he said in August.

The tribal joint venture pushed for its third casino to be operated on non-tribal lands in order to compete with the MGM Springfield across the border in Massachusetts, which is close to opening day as it has been set for next year. However, MGM argues that the law benefits the tribes and runs contrary to the US Constitution’s Equal Protection and Commerce clauses.