On Tuesday, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed legislation approved by the state legislature that allows for two Native American tribes to jointly build and operate a casino, which would be the third of its kind for Connecticut.

The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes have been seeking state approval to build the casino on non-tribal land in the city of East Windsor. The casino is expected to compete with the upcoming MGM Springfield casino in Massachusetts.

“Over the years, our state has maintained a longstanding partnership and compact with the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribal nations, who employ thousands of Connecticut residents at their casinos,” Malloy said in a statement. “Make no mistake about it—the legislation I signed today is about jobs for the residents of Connecticut, and securing those jobs in our state.”

The tribes are planing a $300 million Las Vegas-style facility at a former movie theater, just about 15 miles south of the nearly $1 billion MGM property.

MGM isn’t happy with the legislation, as it wanted to compete for the right to build the new casino. The Nevada-based casino giant alleged that the bill won’t survive a legal challenge, but MGM has been unsuccessful, at least so far, through the court system.

Even Springfield’s mayor took a shot at the Connecticut casino, calling it a “glorified slots parlor.”

According to the Associated Press, Malloy’s signature isn’t the green light for the project. Another series of approvals is needed, but not at the state level.

If all goes well, construction could begin before 2018.

MGM’s Springfield project is eyeing a fall 2018 opening. That casino is planning for 20 poker tables. The tribes haven’t said how big of a poker room there would be at the East Windsor casino. There are currently about 140 poker tables in Connecticut.

The move by the tribes comes at a time when gaming revenue is declining at Connecticut’s two existing casinos—Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. They had their combined gaming revenue fall 7.5 percent to $1.6 billion between 2013 and 2015, according to Casino City’s 2017 Indian Gaming Industry Report.

 

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