Casino talks heat up between Bridgeport, tribes
HARTFORD — Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, legislators and the Connecticut tribes are close to a deal to bring a tribal casino to the Park City after several meetings throughout the day Thursday.
MMCT, a joint venture of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes, would construct a Bridgeport casino with a minimum of 2,000 slot machines, 100 gaming tables, a 500room hotel, with a spa, restaurants and retail space, according to a working draft of the enabling legislation drafted by the city and shared with Hearst Connecticut Media.
The legislation would require a minimum investment by the tribes of $350 million in the development. The bill would require the casino resort to be “fully operational” within 42 months of passage by the General Assembly.
“[The tribes] got the language that the city and the delegation put forward, and they’re looking at counter,” said Rep. Chris Rosario, D-Bridgeport, who has participated in the negotiations. “We’re trying to find a happy meeting that is good for the state, good for the tribal nations and good for the city of Bridgeport. The idea of the city of Bridgeport settling for a slot box, or some parlor, that’s out.”
Rep. Jack Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, said jobs are the “key” to the deal.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that we are going to be moving forward to provide revenue and jobs for the city of Bridgeport,” he said.
A casino deal between Bridgeport and the tribes would dismiss five years of lobbying by MGM Resorts International to bring a $675 million waterfront resort casino to Bridgeport. It represents a huge policy shift for the delegation, who for years have maintained that they support an open, competitive bidding process to bring a new casino to the state.
Most importantly, any handshake deal between the city and tribes faces enormous obstacles. Legislation would need to be approved by the House and Senate, with only six days left before the General Assembly adjourns or in a special session.
Legislation would need the signature of Gov. Ned Lamont, who has not participated in negotiations over the past week after his own gambling deal appears to have fallen apart. Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, has helped broker recent negotiations with several meetings between the parties taking place at his office in the Capitol last week and Thursday.
It is unclear how large a gambling facility the tribes could afford in Bridgeport because their revenues from Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun have declined recently and they have investments planned in a joint East Windsor casino venture.
Finally, an exclusive deal with tribes would likely face a lawsuit from MGM, who previously sued the state when the tribes received permission to build the East Windsor casino off tribal lands.
Hennessy said the delegation believes a deal can be reached to avoid an MGM lawsuit.
“The key to the resolution is to avoid litigation,” he said.