Connecticut town approves casino development agreement

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. — The East Windsor Board of Selectman has unanimously approved a development agreement with two Connecticut tribes hoping to build a new casino to compete with the MGM Resorts International facility opening in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts.

On Monday, the state’s two federally recognized tribes said they have cho- sen the site of a former movie theater complex in East Windsor to host their proposed third casino.

The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes joined forces 15 months ago to come up with a plan to blunt competition from MGM Resorts International’s $950 million casino in Springfield.

The development agreement provides the town $3 million up front and $3 million annually, in addition to reg- ular tax payments that are expected to total about $5.5 million each year.

Ultimately, the entire project still needs approval from the General Assembly. The tribes want legislation passed this session, saying they need to move quickly to protect jobs at their southeastern Connecticut casinos. MGM’s facility is expected to open late 2018.

Some lawmakers think Connecticut instead should build a third casino in southwestern Connecticut to take advantage of the New York City market.

MGM said in a statement Saturday that the casino plan was a “terrible deal for taxpayers in East Windsor and the state of Connecticut.”

“The only way Connecticut opens its first commercial casino in a way that benefits the entire state is by scrapping this charade and creating a fair, open, transparent, and competitive process,” MGM said.