Casino Operators To Make Pitches To Springfield

Two  top casino operators will make public presentations Tuesday about their competing plans for resort casino  projects in downtown Springfield.  WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports.

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Officials with MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming  will  each have 45 minutes to make presentations. A question and answer session will follow.  The forum, which takes place Tuesday evening in the 400 seat CityStage theater is part of  the casino competition set up by Springfield city officials.  Springfield development chief Kevin Kennedy said the goal is to keep the public fully  informed.  Voters must approve any project before a casino operator can seek a gaming license.

MGM and Penn must both pay a $250,000 fee to the city by Friday. Detailed plans for their projects must be submitted to city officials by January 3rd.  Both companies have proposed projects totaling at least $800 million.