Mohegan Sun pays fee for Palmer casino application

PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) - Mohegan Sun has announced that they have submitted their application to build a casino in Palmer, including the state-mandated $400,000 fee.

The Connecticut-based casino company announced Monday that they have submitted their final proposal to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ; one day ahead of the deadline.

“Today, we make the next critical step in fulfilling our commitment to bringing new jobs and economic growth to the region,” Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum said in a statement sent to 22News.

“It is our intent to be the first casino to open its doors in Massachusetts.”

The first company to show an interest in a western Massachusetts casino, Mohegan Sun has owned land near Exit 8 off the Mass Pike for years. They are competing for the sole western Massachusetts casino license with MGM and Penn National, who wish to build casinos in Springfield, and Hard Rock International, which wants to build at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. All of those companies have already submitted their applications.

Wynn, LLC, which wants to develop a casino in the eastern Massachusetts city of Everett, and Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville, which hopes to build a slots parlor, have also submitted applications and the required fee. Additionally, the proponents of a casino at the Suffolk Downs racetrack in East Boston submitted the required fee earlier, but did not submit their full application until Monday. All applications are due at 5:00 Tuesday evening.

Palmer Town Councilor Paul Burns, who has been a major proponent of bringing a casino to the eastern Hampden County town, told 22News that he had been concerned that it had taken such a long time for Mohegan Sun to formally apply.

“I've been a little nervous, to be quite honest. It's taken a long time for them to come up with the payment, and that may be part of their plan that I just haven't been privy to. But it was a little nervewracking,” Burns said.

Mohegan Sun announced Monday that they are partnering with New York-based investment advisor Brigade Capital Management on the project. Brigade has worked in the past on gaming projects in 16 different states.