SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says he's confident the city will have the best casino proposal to offer in the western Massachusetts region.
City officials on Wednesday plan to formally sign a host community agreement with MGM Resorts International. Sarno announced on Tuesday that he had selected MGM over a competing proposal from Penn National Gaming.
The agreement calls for the company to make annual payments to Springfield of more than $25 million if the casino is built.
MGM has proposed an approximately $800 million casino on 14.5 acres of land in the city's South End.
The agreement must now win approval from the city council and from Springfield voters before it can be formally submitted to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Mohegan Sun and Hard Rock International have also proposed casinos in the western region.