The reason behind Casino Presentations

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - MGM and Penn National are revealing more details of their casino plans Tuesday night.

Springfield mayor Domenic Sarno will get to pick if MGM or Penn National or both move forward to the state gaming commission.  The state gaming commission will ultimately decide which developer gets a license in Western Massachusetts.  “Wherever it is, the voters will have to approve it and that's what these presentations are about; winning in the court of public opinion. 

MGM and Penn National continue to sway the people of Springfield to approve a casino.  Both casino developers are revealing new information about their proposals.  Penn National in the North End. 

“We have been fairly quiet up to this point as to specifically what our plans are”, says Penn National Chief Operating Officer Tim Wilmott.

MGM in the South End. 

“It continues to evolve we've done a lot of work since we've last presented publically at least in the
general format back in August and we're excited to share that”, says MGM Springfield President Bill Hornbuckle.

With Ameristar bowing the casino competition in Springfield is down to just these two. 

“It certainly gets the level of competition down quite a bit, it certainly makes it easier for us and MGM”, says Wilmott.

“Ameristar is a great company, they'll go on to do other things and we'll stay focused on Springfield for ourselves”, says Hornbuckle.

Penn National isn't going to put all its chips on the table just yet.  They're still trying to hammer out some final details leading up to a January 3rd deadline in Springfield.

“With Union Station, the relocation the Peter Pan the relocation of the Republican these things take time.  We're taking our time to make sure we have these agreements in place with our potential partners before we announce all the specific plans”, says Wilmott. 
 
Whichever way Mayor Sarno is leaning, MGM feels the state will get to see their proposal. 

“We feel pretty comfortable where we are, we've told a straight forward story”, says Hornbuckle.

(So you feel confident you'll be put forward to the state by the city?)

“Always confident”, says Hornbuckle.