Connecticut tribal casino moves a step closer

slation to begin the construction of a new casino in East Windsor proposed by the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes has successfully passed through the Connecticut senate.

After two and half hours of debate senators passed measures to approve construction by 24 votes to 12, however approval is still required from both the House of Representatives and Connecticut State Governor Dannel P. Malloy.

The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes claim that the $300m casino will create more than 1,200 jobs and hopes that the new development will deter gamblers from crossing into nearby Massachusetts, where a new $1bn casino is set to be opened by MGM Resorts International in 2018.

Democratic Senator Tim Larson, who voted in favour of the legislation told the Hartford Courant newspaper: “This is a jobs bill at its core.”

He added: “The Mohegans and Pequots have been excellent partners to our state and are the backbone of our tourism economy.”

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler welcomed the move, saying: "The Senate took us one step closer to saving more than 9,000 jobs and millions in state tax revenue."

However, Uri Clinton, Senior Vice President and Deputy Legal counsel for the MGM Resorts International group remained defiant saying: "The Senate vote is not the final word on casino expansion in Connecticut.

"However, it is disappointing that the state Senate took a vote that denies the state of Connecticut the opportunity to create thousands of new jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue for the state."