MGM Resorts International announced Wednesday its application for a $800 million casino in downtown Springfield, competing with a license against Connecticut casino Mohegan Sun’s proposal for nearby Palmer.
Massachusetts is issuing one casino license each for the Greater Boston area, the southeastern part of the state, and western Massachusetts. The licenses will be awarded sometime in late 2013 or early 2014.
Early in the process, Mohegan Sun, based in the Uncasville section of Montville, was considered the frontrunner for the western Massachusetts license, with the plan to open another resort in Palmer. However, as many as four proposals are expected in Springfield that will compete with Mohegan for the one license.
MGM on Wednesday was the first to pay the $400,000 application fee to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for the western license.
The project would go in downtown Springfield near the city’s convention center and close to Interstate 91. Springfield voters would have to approve the plans before the gaming commission made its decision.
If the western license is awarded to a Springfield casino, not only would Mohegan miss out on its Palmer resort, but the competing business would siphon customers from Mohegan’s Connecticut property and Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket as Springfield is closer for many western Massachusetts and northwestern Connecticut residents.
