Currently there are two operating Native American gaming facilities in Connecticut—Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. In addition, the Connecticut General Assembly approved a plan for a third casino in East Windsor, CT operated by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed enabling legislation for the East Windsor, CT casino, which is being developed in response MGM Resorts' Springfield, MA casino, which is scheduled to open in late 2018.

MGM Resorts has initiated legal proceedings in an attempt to block the development of the East Windsor, CT casino. That project requires federal approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior and a recent letter by the department's Bureau of Indian Affairs reportedly has delayed approval of that project.

If the MGM casino in Bridgeport moves forward, it would look to tap into the New York metro area gaming market. In New York State, the more than $1-billion Resorts World Catskills under construction in Sullivan County is scheduled to open its doors in March 2018. In addition, other more limited racino-type operations are currently operating at Empire City at Yonkers Raceway and Resorts World casino at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, which in July broke ground on a $400-million expansion.

“The focus is rightly on the thousands of jobs that will be created, on the economic impact that will be felt by families, by the community, and by residents all across this state,” says Robert W. Christoph Sr., chairman of The RCI Group. “That impact should not be underestimated, and cannot be overstated. What we have developed with MGM is, in so many ways, a blueprint for progress for Bridgeport and for Connecticut.”

Among some of the touted economic benefits the project would generate include: $50 million in license fees paid to the State of Connecticut in fiscal year 2018; $8 million in annual payments to the City of Bridgeport; $4.5 million in annual payments to surrounding communities and $430 million in new labor income.

MGM Resorts states in its announced that the project's construction would be 100% privately financed.

“We look forward to securing the required approvals so that this critical private investment of over a half billion dollars may proceed without delay,” RCI Group's Christoph Sr. says.

Steelpointe Harbor is a planned 2.8 million square-foot project consisting of retai, commercial/office, hotel and residential space. Currently, Steelpointe Harbor consists of a Starbucks, Chipotle, T-Mobile and a newcomer to the Connecticut area, Bass Pro Shops. Construction began earlier this summer on the 35,000-square-foot Dockmaster Building, a mixed-use property that will feature office, residential and retail space. The project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2018.

MGM Resorts acquired the Borgata in Atlantic City, NJ in August 2016 for $900 million and opened the $1.4-billion MGM National Harbor in Maryland in December 2016.