Mohegan Sun Eyes Casino Close To Mass. Border
BOSTON (CBS) - Casino competition could be heating up across state lines as Massachusetts moves closer to getting into the gambling game.
The new CEO of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Bobby Soper, says after losing out in trying to open a casino in Massachusetts, building another location closer to the state line is not out of the question.
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"Clearly there's going to be some impact when Massachusetts opens up," he says. "It makes sense for Connecticut to have a facility that will recapture lost business so we can maintain jobs, and tax revenues as well."
Soper says he expects to see a huge financial impact from the new Massachusetts casinos, but his company is planning for expansion in New England and beyond.
"Generally, the net effect of competition is negative," he says. "We certainly believe there's going to be some impact and frankly, for years now, we've forecasted it and planned for it. We've put ourselves in a financial position that allows us to withstand competition."
Soper says Mohegan Sun is still looking at the possibility of opening a second Connecticut location closer to the Massachusetts border but the company is opening casinos in other states to generate more growth.