Tribal Winds Casino Project Moving Forward

EAST WINDSOR, CT - The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes today announced that MMCT Venture has wired $1 million to the state Department of Consumer Protection, completing the first step in financing the Tribal Winds Casino. According to a statement from the tribes, the money is intended to offset the state's regulatory costs.

“For the last several months, we’ve been working with the town, our design team and our finance team to get ready,” said Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler in a statement. “Now that the issues with the Department of Interior have been resolved, we’re excited to take this step. We’ll be announcing financing and an updated construction timeline in the very near future.”

Tribal Winds Casino is expected to employ 5,000 Connecticut residents, with 2,000 slated for hiring during construction and 2,000 permanent employees at the facility, according to the tribes' statement. An additional 1,000 jobs are expected at the many small businesses that will help service the facility.

Once operational, Tribal Winds Casino will boost funding by $750,000 in Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, East Hartford, Ellington, Enfield, Norwalk, South Windsor, Waterbury and Windsor Locks.

East Windsor is expected to receive $8.5 million in new tax and mitigation funding, according to the statement.