Mohegan Tribe Announce Casino Plans for Palmer

On September 1st, 2007, the gambling operators of the Mohegan Sun Casino in the state of Connecticut are planning to spend a total of $1 billion on a brand new casino resort in Palmer that features 4,000 world-class slot machines, a hotel facility with 600 rooms and a merchandise center.

The head of the Mohegan Tribe, Bruce Bozsum, commented that the tribe realized that any gambling resort in Palmer would cost $1 billion. He said that the project will give a lot of people jobs in the area. Bozsum's remarks are the first time that the Mohegan Tribe has given out any clear remarks about their casino plans in Palmer.

Just last month, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority signed an exclusive agreement with Northeast Realty and Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, a developer of business, residential and office establishments, to think of the possibility of building a casino on the 150 acres of land off Mass Pike.

The town manager for Palmer Richard Fitzgerald commented that officials have met with the developers representing the Mohegan Tribe on different times. Initial talks have deal with the casino which will contain 2,000 slot machines-4,000 slot machines, a 600 room hotel facility and a merchandise area.

Details about the Mohegan Tribe's casino were announced the same day that the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe applied to put the property in Middleboro under federal trust.

The casino issue will be discussed at the Palmer town's September 10th, 2007 meeting. Fitzgerald said that Palmer is divided over the casino plans but the voters approved a town referendum in 1990's that allows for casino/resort within the town's boundaries.

Sunday, 23 September 2007
Caroline Mitchell