With a new casino being built just north in Springfield, Massachusetts, and revenues from Connecticut’s casinos lagging, the likelihood of a new casino in the state is slim.
“There hasn’t been a lot of serious talk about it and without a proposal the topic lacks the momentum” said State Sen. Martin Looney, soon to be president pro tem of the Connecticut State Senate.
MGM is building a new facility in Springfield that’s set to open in 2017, with a groundbreaking slated for early next year. It’s one of three casinos that have been approved in Massachusetts.
Mohegan tribal leaders, who operate the Mohegan Sun facility in Uncasville, they view the increased competition in neighboring states as a direct threat to the entire industry in Connecticut.
In a statement, the Kevin Brown, tribe’s chairman said, “those states recognize that gaming resorts create revenue streams both for the business and the state in which they operate."
Brown continued and said the tribe would figure out ways to maintain its business model with competition from all directions.
“If we in Connecticut do not honor our partnership and take steps to protect business here, and customers travel to surrounding states, we will find operational efficiencies that allow us to provide for our people, while meeting the new smaller market demand.”
Looney said he expects decreased revenues from gaming as a result of the new casino in Springfield when it opens.
“The novelty of a new facility openly will potentially exacerbate the loss of revenues in Connecticut,” he said.
Even though he recognizes that there has been talk about a new casino, Looney said he’s yet to see an actual proposal which puts the project behind, at least for now.
"Until there is a concrete proposal with some idea of specifics and momentum behind it anything short of that is just speculation at this point."
