A developer wants to build a new casino at the former Showcase Cinemas off of Silver Lane in East Hartford.
Right now, the state is weighing whether to allow Connecticut’s two Native American tribes to open three additional casinos to help fight off the financial threat from Massachusetts, where a casino is under construction in Springfield.
"There’s an opportunity here in terms of speed to market, moving this project along very quickly. I think it’s important for Connecticut to get up and running fast. We certainly have the place, location to do that," said Tony Ravosa Jr., president of the Vince Group, which has put in a bid to develop the casino.
The casino would cost $140 million and include 1,000 gaming machines, along with several restaurants and bars. The site is close to Rentschler Field and several highways, including Interstate 84.
"I think we have an opportunity in East Hartford to do what I consider the most transformative opportunity for a gaming and entertainment destination in the Greater Hartford area," said Ravosa.
He said the casino would create about 240 jobs with a payroll of about $10 million.
While it’s presently just an idea, East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc said she’s remaining neutral, though sees some benefits from a casino in her town.
"We have significant stretches of properties on, along Silver Lane that have gone and lived their usefulness and we’re ripe for redevelopment," said Leclerc.
The state legislature is currently working on a bill to allow for the three additional casinos.
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State Sen. Tim Larson, the Senate majority whip, said committee work on the bill should be wrapped up next week. He expects about another month of meetings before the bill can be voted on by the full legislature.
Patty McQueen, a spokesperson for the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, said the two councils met for a joint meeting Thursday to discuss the development of a casino.
McQueen said they "are encouraged by the increasing number of towns that are expressing interest in developing an alternative gaming facility."
"The tribes believe that votes like the one taken by East Windsor selectmen this week, and proposals like the one from East Hartford, show an increasing understanding from businesses and municipalities that the potential for job loss from competition over the state border is real, and protecting them will be good for the state and the region," said McQueen.
