The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes in Connecticut have been lobbying to get permission to construct an additional three casinos in the state in an effort to keep locals from growing across the border and gambling in neighboring states like Massachusetts.

The MGM Springfield casino recently broke ground to construct an $800 million casino and resort in next door Massachusetts. MGM Casino officials were confident that the new casino will attract a large number of gamblers from Connecticut and did not feel threatened by Connecticut’s Tribes proposal to construct three more casinos.

In a statement, Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO said “I’m a little bit bemused. Connecticut has had a duopoly for decades and instead of attempting to improve the quality of entertainment on the existing resorts, there seems to be a desire to sprinkle slots around the state”