Tribes attack MGM over Connecticut casino project

The MMCT has launched an ad showing MGM executives talking about hunting for gambling dollars from Connecticut.

US.- The partnership of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes (MMCT) that is challenging MGM on a third casino opening in the state has released an attack ad on the Las Vegas-based company. In the video, MGM executives are shown talking about how they would go to Hartford “and attack” as they “want their (Connecticut) money to come here (the MGM Springfield venue to open in Massachusetts in 2019).”

Governor Daniel Malloy had questioned MGM’s reasons to pursue a casino project within state borders as opposition to MMCT’s East Windsor venue. “Let’s not argue that they’re the defenders of commerce. They’re not. They want their exclusive piece of the pie, based on the casino in Springfield,” he said.

Connecticut lawmakers are currently studying two competing bills that would open a third casino in the state. The first, would allow the MMCT to open a venue in East Windsor in order to uphold their position against the soon to be open MGM Springfield. The other one, would expand casino gambling away from the tribes for the first time: it would grant permission to MGM Resorts International to build a gambling venue around Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city.

The state’s budget currently reports a US$5 billion deficit that could grow due to a decline in income tax revenues and that is likely to help either one of said bills.