New England Public Radio

In Springfield, Gambling Officials Brush Off East Windsor Casino Plan

Gambling officials in Massachusetts are brushing off news this week that Connecticut’s two Native American tribes are moving forward with a casino plan in East Windsor to compete with MGM Springfield.

“Will it impact some of our visitation if it ever comes to fruition? Perhaps, but as you know, we’re putting up a really unique product here as an urban resort,” said Mike Mathis, head of MGM’s Springfield project, which is scheduled to open in 2018.

Despite that confidence, MGM is suing to block Connecticut’s third tribal casino.

Regardless, Steve Crosby, head of the Gaming Commission, said he believes MGM can handle any potential competition.

“If circumstances change, if the competitive environment changes significantly, then we’ll have to take a look at that,” Crosby said. “But at this stage of the game, we’re proceeding on pace, and think they’re pretty well situated to deal with whatever they have to deal with.”

The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes signed an agreement Thursday with East Windsor. It still needs the approval of the Connecticut legislature.

From Gaming Commission, Concern That MGM Isn’t Fully Committed To Springfield

MGM officials were grilled Thursday in Springfield by state gambling regulators, over their proposal to eliminate a 25-story glass hotel tower from their casino plan. The casino’s 250 room hotel would instead be in a six-story building. The company says it’s changing its design to save money as construction costs rise.

MGM officials say they’re trying to cut costs where they can, though they still estimate the total price tag will top $800 million. But that hasn’t stopped speculation that MGM is scaling back as a new casino is in the works in the Albany region, and another could be on the way in the Hartford area.

Speaking to the gaming commission, MGM Springfield president Michael Mathis acknowledged all that.

“But that said, we are fully committed to this design and this project,” Mathis said, clearing his throat. “What’s also unchanged is the total budget commitment.”

Mathis’ tone didn’t sound convincing to Commission Chair Steve Crosby.

So, Crosby asked, “Where is MGM and MGM Corporate on its commitment to the Springfield project?”

“Fully committed,” Mathis replied. “And I didn’t mean to be tentative in any statement about that.”

To stress the point, Mathis added he just moved his family to Springfield from Las Vegas.

Later, Crosby was asked if he was satisfied with Mathis’ answer.

“I take him at face value,” he said. “You know, I asked the question because I wanted him to look me in the eye and tell me that both he and the corporation were committed to this project. And he looked me in the eye and said they were. And I can’t do anything else but accept that at face value.”

There were also some tense moments at the meeting when commissioner Enrique Zuniga, laid into MGM officials about how they reported their design and budget changes to the commission. Ultimately, Zuniga said, he’s worried that losing the big hotel tower will diminish MGM’s ability to attract customers.

“The significant feature of this project — what you sold this commission, the city and the community, is now no longer,” Zuniga said. “And I’m worried a little bit.”

The changes, which have the support of Mayor Domenic Sarno, will still need approval from the gaming commission and the Springfield City Council. The council plans to hold an emergency meeting on the new casino design on Tuesday.

MGM Holds Firm To Eviction Date For Inmate Treatment Center

MGM Springfield is holding firm to an eviction deadline at the end of this month for an inmate treatment center in the city’s south end. The building is in the footprint of the company’s planned casino.

MGM now owns the building where the Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center operates. The Hampden County Sheriff oversees the center, and while MGM Springfield President Mike Mathis says he’s worked closely with the sheriff to find a way to relocate the facility, he says the center must be out by March 31st, “give or take a few days, which we’ve offered to the sheriff.” Mathis says. “If we had a plan in place that we understood, we’d be willing to juggle some things, but we’re getting pretty close to that critical period.”

The sheriff’s office has requested about 4 million dollars from the state gaming commission to help relocate. But Commission chair Steve Crosby says the sheriff needs to submit an updated request, with a plan for where the treatment facility would move. That’s after the developer for a new space abruptly pulled out of the project last month.

A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department says the office is “working diligently and earnestly on a plan and a solution.”