To accelerate the local approval process of a third Connecticut casino, MMCT Venture, the company created by the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, has offered to pay for referendums on the issue. East Hartford, East Windsor, Hartford and Windsor Locks have each submitted a proposal to host the jointly operated casino.
Tribal officials in a letter to elected officials said they are fighting efforts by MGM, a “multi-national corporation” to siphon off gaming revenues that go to Connecticut towns and cities. It expects to make a decision three weeks from today.
Josh Foley, a spokesperson and attorney for the State Elections Enforcement Commission, said there are no state restrictions on the tribes paying for the referenda. He did add there are state laws in place on referendum advocacy that would require disclosure of who was paying. A decision to accept payment for the referendum would be up to local municipality. The towns will be reimbursed regardless of referendum outcome.
MMCT aims to make a selection by Dec. 15, 2015 but spokesman Andrew Doba said that’s a fluid deadline. “If towns need more time to secure support from residents we will consider moving that back. This is an open and transparent process, and as the chairs have said many times, town approval is a very important part of the equation,” he said via e-mail.
Legislative approval is still required before the casino can open. The General Assembly goes back into regular session on Feb. 3.
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