Tribes make counteroffer on casino
HARTFORD — Connecticut’s two Native American tribes made a counteroffer Sunday to Bridgeport’s proposed $350 million resort casino development as talks to bring gambling to the state’s largest city advance.
As the parties debate the scope of the project and its enabling legislation, city officials are quietly discussing possible sites for the casino, multiple sources said. Their preferred options are Steele Point sites, the Shoreline Star property on Kossuth Street and the two parking lots opposite Broad Street from the Webster Bank Arena and former Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
As the Legislature nears adjournment Wednesday, strong skepticism exists that a Bridgeport casino deal can be reached and would survive the triple threat of legislative approval, gubernatorial assent and looming litigation.
Few at the state Capitol had seen the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes’ new proposal on Monday.
Rep. Chris Rosario, DBridgeport, who had the document read to him, said the tribes want to concentrate their investments on the casino facility, not necessarily retail or lodging, although those details will continue to be negotiated until a final deal is reached.
“It’s going to be a publicprivate partnership,” Rosario said Monday. “If (the tribes) want to focus just on gaming and want another developer to do the destination or the resort part of it, I’m pretty sure that’s going to be part of the agreement.”
Conversations between legislators, city leaders, and the tribes, who now operate Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, are active, with input from governor’s office expected soon.
“I’m stepping back a little and letting the administration re-engage,” said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, who orchestrated the recent negotiations after Gov. Ned Lamont’s deal-making efforts collapsed.
Efforts to bring a casino to Bridgeport date back to the early 1990s and have died before. Any agreement faces immense hurdles including legislative approval and the threat of litigation from MGM Resorts International, who has lobbied for years for the opportunity to bring a $675 million waterfront resort casino to Bridgeport.
The agreement is expected in the form of legislation that would also legalize sports betting — and grant the tribes valuable permission to operate sports books. That could invite a lawsuit from New Havenbased gaming firm, Sportech, which runs off-track betting in Connecticut.
Lamont’s staff was briefed Monday on the negotiations between the city and tribes. The governor’s signature will be required on any legislation enabling a new casino.
“Privately and publicly, he’s been very committed to making something happen in Bridgeport,” Rosario said. “If he doesn’t sign it, no dice.”
It is still unclear how much the tribes would be interested in and capable of investing in Bridgeport, as Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods struggle with declining revenue following the opening of MGM Springfield to their North. The tribes are planning to construct a midsize casino in East Windsor to combat to flow of traffic to MGM Springfield — a project that will also pull on tribal purse strings. They have refused to abandon this project, despite a request from Lamont.
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment also became the sole owner of a $1.6 billion South Korea casino venture in 2018.
A smaller Bridgeport casino would be easier to find a location for, construct and open, but would likely create fewer jobs.
In September 2017, Miami-based RCI Group announced a land contract with MGM to bring a casino to their Steel Point property. When the city started negotiations with the tribes in the past few weeks, developer Bob Christoph Jr. claimed to be blindsided.
The contract with MGM is believed to expire in September, but it is not known whether MGM has extended the deal or if the Christophs, MGM and tribes could reach an arrangement.
Just up the river and north of Interstate 95 is Shoreline Star, a pari-mutuel betting facility and former greyhound race track. The building could quickly be converted to hold slots, table games and a sports book, as the rest of the property is developed, sources said.
In 2015, Shoreline Star was among several gambling facilities that asked the General Assembly to consider their property as potential sites for three satellite casinos the legislature was debating. Shoreline Star is owned by A. Robert Zeff and his wife Susan. Zeff, now in his 80s, has a checkered past including arrest, allegations of tax evasion and ethics violations.
Zeff declined to comment.
Nearby, another possible casino site are surface parking lots, now owned by the city and Bridgeport Housing Authority, between Brewport and the former home of the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball team, sources said. In September, the city expressed interest in buying the Housing Authority’s parking lot to market the property to investors.