The U.S. Department of Interior has issued one of two approvals needed for the construction of a casino two federally recognized Native American tribes hope to build in East Windsor to compete with a new Massachusetts casino.
The agency published official notice Friday that it approved amendments to a revenue-sharing agreement between the Mohegan tribe and the state of Connecticut. A project spokesman has said the second approval is expected soon on amendments to a similar agreement between the state and Mashantucket Pequots.
The two tribes operate casinos in southeastern Connecticut. They're planning another casino in East Windsor, about 15 miles from an MGM Resorts casino scheduled to open this summer in Springfield, Massachusetts.
"I never thought this outcome was in question, but I'm glad it's finally happened," State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) said in a statement Thursday after reports the federal department would publish the notice Friday. "This decision puts us just where we want to be: continuing to protect jobs in Connecticut and revenue for the state."
MGM Resorts criticized the ruling as conflicting with federal law and said it plans to investigate the decision.
