by Steve Norton
CEO, Norton Management

MGM storms Hartford to fight competitor casino proposal in East Windsor and push for competition | masslive.com

For months, I have been pointing out the many advantages of any 3rd Connecticut casino being close to the New York State border, rather than one of four casinos competing for the Greater Hartford market. Now I read a ridiculous comment that MGM, with possibly 3,000 employees, is going to cost CT 9,300 jobs. I wonder if this number includes persons at risk of loosing unemployment or food stamps; because of the Tribes reduced revenue sharing, with CT. At one time the Tribes employed around 20,000 persons; but over a decade ago, Pennsylvania added casinos that impacted the New York, New Jersey markets, then Yonkers and Aqueduct added 10,000 slot machines, even closer to CT. And add to that, Twin Rivers was approved for table games,and Plainridge Park added slots to racing.

And, as a result of the new competition, the two Tribe's slot win has declined, by 38 percent from $1.72 to $1.07 billion in the 8 years between 2007 and 2015. And when you look at the competition, MGM, with maybe 250 rooms, 3,000 slots and 75 tables; will have to compete against nearly 4,000 rooms, over 10,000 slots and 700 tables, plus a 10,000 seat event hall and indoor water park. And the travel time from Hartford (by Google) is 31 minutes to Springfield, 46 minutes to Mohegan Sun and 49 minutes to Foxwoods. 15 minutes is a small sacrifice, when considering that Mohegan has 5 times as many table games, over twice the number of slots, many more restaurants and their arena, is home to the New England Black Wolves and the WNBA Connecticut Sun; plus can be configured for Basketball, Boxing, Bowling, Rodeo and Lacrosse events; along with musical performances, like Sting, Ed Sheeran, Chris Lane and Panic.

Over 35 years ago, I met with Bridgeport Legislators, after we opened Resorts International Casino Hotel in Atlantic City; exploring whether CT could see similar positive impacts, in jobs, taxes, construction and tourism; that we experienced in AC. However nothing happened, until NJ Attorney Mickey Brown, then Chairman of the Pequot Tribe, made a deal with the State to share 25% of Foxwood's slot win, in exchange for a State monopoly.

Gambling Supporters Say Casino Expansion In Other States Threatens Connecticut's Casinos - Hartford Courant

What I find difficult to comprehend, if this battle is really about jobs and tax revenue; why pick a site that is going to have to compete with a near $billion casino in Springfield and two multi $billion destination resorts at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Especially since an under served group, a million plus New Yorkers, are on the Western border of Connecticut, with the nearest gaming a slot casino, Yonkers, on very busy highways on the way to NY City. And the beauty is; that you would not be taxing CT citizens, but the revenues to support an even larger casino primarily from New Yorkers. And the proposed small casino, near the Hrtford-Springfield Airport, accessible by an under construction 1-91, would be almost exclusively taxing CT citizens. This is spite, for Massachusetts daring to bring some of their customers back; to play and spend at their own casinos.