Town officials are considering using eminent domain to acquire the land on which the Tribal Winds Casino was to be built, now that the project has been halted as part of the state’s new agreement with its two Native American tribes.
The agreement between the state and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes that legalized sports gambling in Connecticut also included a caveat that the East Windsor casino be put on hold for at least 10 years, the lifetime of the deal.
The joint tribal venture MMCT maintains ownership of the former Showcase Cinemas property just off Interstate 91, costing the town tens of thousands in lost property taxes per year, as well as preventing development and job creation, town officials say.
