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Two More Towns Bid for Third Connecticut Casino

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South Windsor and East Windsor are now also in the running to host the state's proposed third casino. Candidates from those two towns submitted new bids for consideration to the partnership of Connecticut's two federally recognized Indian tribes, the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans. 

That partnership has the blessing of the General Assembly to develop the project, which is supposed to counter competition from MGM International's casino currently under construction in Springfield, Massachusetts.

South Windsor and East Windsor join Windsor Locks and East Hartford, both of which have been in the running for the casino for almost a year. The tribal partnership recently re-opened the bidding for towns interested in hosting the facility, saying they wanted a more open and transparent process. 

The partnership said that Hartford could also still be considered. A site in the city was tentatively put forward under its previous mayor, Pedro Segarra, but has not been picked up by any developer.

East Windsor had previously submitted a site that was rejected by the tribes. Now the town has put forward the old Showcase cinema, near Exit 44 off I-91. First Selectman Bob Maynard said he thinks this plan has a much greater chance of success.

"It's zoned for commercial recreation," Maynard told WNPR. "East Windsor's looking for jobs for its residents, so we'd be happy to have the casino. I think there's a lot of support."

Matt Galligan, South Windsor's town manager, said his community, which had not previously considered bidding, will now put forward a site off I-291. The area had been slated to host a technology park.

"A casino like this would be a shot in the arm of the grand list of any town," he said. "I think the revenues would be there to support some of the needs that the town is looking for, and it's a location that I think would make it acceptable to most people in the community."

The tribes won't yet say when they plan to make a final site choice.

Harriet Jones is Managing Editor for Connecticut Public Radio, overseeing the coverage of daily stories from our busy newsroom.

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