MMCT begins demolition work
After a slight delay, the MMCT tribes have begun demolishing the site to build their casino – should it get final approval.
US.- Despite being scheduled for last February 28th, demolition work at the former Showcase Cinemas building in East Windsor has begun, as the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes (MMCT) are moving forward to prepare the land in readiness for the casino’s construction. Despite needing further regulatory approval before building can begin, the tribes decided to carry on with the demolition of the current building in order to be ready.
There has been serious controversy surrounding this venue – the first tribal casino on non-tribal land – as it would compete with the MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. MGM has been lobbying hard against the East Windsor venue and spokesman Saverio Manchini said: “Our MGM Springfield team is entirely focused on our project and we could not be more excited about the future. We are fully committed to opening in the fall of 2018 and have already begun the hiring process for the 3,000 new employees who will welcome our first guests.”
There’s still some approval needed in order to get construction going, but things are not looking good for the tribes; Connecticut legislators recently passed gaming expansion in the state, which proposes to open a bidding process for private companies which will have to “include a workforce of at least 2,000 and an agreement to give the state at least 25 per cent of gross gaming revenues from all games, plus at least 10 per cent from slot machines.” Companies would also have to pay a US$50 million licencing fee to the state.
According to lawmakers, the bidding process would have to be conducted “without the East Windsor casino in play”, so things may not be that easy for the tribes in the near future.
