Mohegan Sun's future in Palmer

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (WWLP) - Mohegan Sun in Connecticut is laying off more than 300 employees.  22News went to Mohegan Sun in Connecticut to find out if the casino developer is still committed to Palmer.
 
Is Mohegan Sun going to pay that $400,000 application fee to the state gaming commission?  And if so, when?  22News asked those questions to Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority CEO Mitchell Etess.

"It's funny because people say that it shows commitment. I don't think anyone has shown more commitment to Western Massachusetts gaming than we have over the years", says Etess.

In this current round of casino talks.  Mohegan Sun was the first casino developer to express an interest in building in Western Massachusetts.  Now it is competing with MGM, Ameristar and possibly Penn National and Hard Rock Casinos.  Only MGM has paid the state the non-refundable $400,000 application fee.  

"If there's going to be a casino in Western Massachusetts, we would like to have it. Obviously a lot of other people do, it's not like we're the only people in Western Massachusetts at the beginning we were, now its kind of like a feeding frenzy", says Etess.

(When do you plan on putting down that $400,000?)

"Our plan is to put in a complete RA-1 application and when that happens we will put our $400,000 in", says Etess.

(So 100 percent you're be fulfilling that application and putting down that money at some point?)

"We are pursuing a license in Western Massachusetts", says Etess.