Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation seeks to revive gaming lawsuit

Wednesday, October 17, 2018  

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is firing back at the Trump administration as plans for a new casino in Connecticut remain in limbo.

Court papers filed on Tuesday accuse the Department of the Interior of bowing to "undue political pressure." Specifically, attorneys for the tribe say opponents of the new casino repeatedly "pressured" Secretary Ryan Zinke to reject the project.

The pressure was exerted in various ways, including at a "private dinner at a steakhouse in Las Vegas, Nevada," according to the filing. Zinke was also told directly by the White House to reject the tribe's agreement for the new casino, the papers assert.

"Congressional interference by the Nevada delegation and the White House tainted the administrative process," the tribes' attorney wrote in the filing, which was first reported by POLITICO.

The "Nevada delegation" refers to Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nevada) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nevada). The two lawmakers in fact were copied on a letter that was sent to the tribe in September 2017, informing the tribe that its agreement would not be approved.

According to the tribe, the lawmakers were acting at the behest of MGM Resorts International, a non-Indian gaming company that has since opened a new casino in neighboring Massachusetts. MGM Springfield debuted on August 25 and generated $27 million in gaming revenue in September, its first full month of operation.

The tribe, meanwhile, saw slot machine revenues decline by 5.2 percent when compared to September 2017. The Mohegan Tribe saw a whopping 8..8 percent decline.

The two tribes are working together on the new casino in Connecticut. They chose a site in the city of East Windsor in order to compete with MGM Springfield, which is less than 15 miles away.

The Mohegan Tribe received a nearly identical letter in September 2017 regarding its own gaming agreement. The Trump administration insisted that it didn't have enough information to make a final decision.

But nearly 10 months later, a notice of the Mohegan Tribe agreement was published in the Federal Register. The lawsuit seeks to force the publication of a similar notice for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

Tribe says 'improper political influence' led Zinke to scuttle casino (POLITICO October 17, 2018)
MGM Springfield gaming nets $27M in first month (Harfford Business October 16, 2018)
Competitive pressures weighing on Mohegan, Foxwoods' slot revenues (Harfford Business October 15, 2018)
Slot revenue at Foxwoods drops 5.2% (The Norwich Bulletin October 15, 2018)
Casinos' slots revenue down in September, MGM Springfield's first full month (The New London Day October 15, 2018)

Indian Gaming; Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact Taking Effect in the State of Connecticut (June 1, 2018)

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation sees setback in case against Trump administration (October 2, 2018)
Tribes see dip in slot machine revenues as rival opens new facility (September 18, 2018)
Tribes see decline in slot machine revenues as they await new arrival (August 15, 2018)
Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes report mixed slot machine revenues (June 19, 2018)
Tribes plan to break ground on long-awaited casino in Connecticut (June 14, 2018)
Trump administration still mum on gaming agreement for Mashantucket Tribe (June 13, 2018)
Trump administration reverses course on tribal gaming agreement in Connecticut (June 4, 2018)
Online gaming also on the table as Connecticut negotiates with tribes (May 24, 2018)
Connecticut governor seeks to negotiate sports betting with tribes (May 22, 2018)
Mashantucket and Mohegan interested in pursuing casinos in Japan (May 16, 2018)
Mohegan Tribe gains sole ownership of $5 billion gaming project in Korea (May 9, 2018)
Non-Indian firm fighting tribes announces earlier opening date for casino (April 26, 2018)
Lawmakers from Connecticut prompted probe into handling of tribal agreements (April 25, 2018)
Tribes welcome probe into Trump administration's handling of gaming agreements (April 23, 2018)
Tribes still facing legal questions in bid for new casino in Connecticut (April 17, 2018)
Trump administration hit for keeping two tribes in Connecticut in the dark (April 6, 2018)
Mohegan Tribe on track to complete convention center at casino (March 29, 2018)
Tribes finally start demolition at site of delayed casino in Connecticut (March 6, 2018)
Tribes still planning to start work on delayed casino in Connecticut (February 28, 2018)
Trump team appears willing to delay tribal casino deal in Connecticut indefinitely (February 6, 2018)
Tribes ready to start initial work on delayed casino in Connecticut (February 2, 2018)
Former Interior Secretary Gale Norton lobbies against tribes' casino (February 1, 2018)