Mohegan Tribal Council Ex-Chairman Kevin Brown, seen here in 2016, is leaving the council completely, according to a news report. (Image: YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBrown previously quit the chairman\u2019s post in February for \u201cpersonal reasons.\u201d But last week, his pending departure from the nine-member tribal council was revealed — as was an investigation into alleged violations of the tribe\u2019s code of ethics, The Day<\/em> newspaper reported citing unnamed sources.<\/p>\nThe Day<\/em> added the allegations related to alleged breaches of confidentiality and possibly other issues.<\/p>\nThe inquiry was done by a firm that handles ethics complaints for Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE). That is the gaming arm of the tribe.<\/p>\n
Brown, also a member of the MGE Management Board, is expected to leave that board, too. \u00a0MGE includes Connecticut\u2019s Mohegan Sun gaming venue; Mohegan Sun Pocono, a Pennsylvania racetrack casino; and management\/consulting services for other gaming venues.<\/p>\n
\n
Brown — who was first elected to the council in 2013 — could quit the council and the MGE board as early as this week, the news report said. He reportedly has been on unpaid leave.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Brown was earning over $200,000 from the MGE board during the fiscal year that ended last September. Brown and tribal officials did not respond to the newspaper\u2019s request last week for comments.<\/p>\n
Awaiting Progress on Tribal Casino in East Windsor<\/h2>\n
Earlier this year, Brown and Mashantucket Pequot Chair Rodney Butler got attention in the media as they led the effort to jointly open a satellite casino in East Windsor, Connecticut on non-sovereign land. \u00a0It is tentatively being called Tribal Winds — and once opened is likely to compete with the nearby MGM Springfield, which opened last August.<\/p>\n
As of last month, the tribes appeared to be still searching for financing to begin construction on the East Windsor venue, according to the Connecticut Post<\/em> newspaper. The tribes have already spent some $14 million on the $300 million casino.<\/p>\nApprovals for the venue were caught up in litigation and federal regulatory issues. Those were resolved in March.<\/p>\n
Under a compact between the tribes and the state, Connecticut gets 25 percent of slot machine revenue from Foxwoods — owned by the Mashantucket Pequots — and Mohegan Sun. That totals approximately $270 million a year.<\/p>\n
In return, the agreement gives the tribes exclusivity on some kinds of gambling. MGM Resorts has legally challenged whether Connecticut should give the tribes exclusivity for gaming venues outside of the reservations.<\/p>\n
The gaming operator wants to see competitive bidding for non-reservation casino projects. For instance, MGM has proposed building a $675 million casino on the shorefront in Bridgeport, Connecticut.<\/p>\n
Bridgeport Casino Debate<\/h2>\n
But Gov. Ned Lamont<\/a> wants the tribes as developers of any possible casino in Bridgeport. Last month, Lamont said that any gaming venue in Bridgeport must include the two tribes.<\/p>\nEarlier this year, a proposal was released from the tribes and the city of Bridgeport. It includes $100 million for the casino from the tribes.<\/p>\n
An additional $100 million would come from the state and possibly Bridgeport for related infrastructure improvements.\u00a0At least another $100 million in private funds would pay for a hotel.<\/p>\n
\n
Connecticut\u2019s legislature did not approve the Bridgeport tribal casino proposal in this past session. The delay was backed by Lamont who apparently still favors tribal participation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It is possible the proposal could be addressed in a special legislative session this summer.\u00a0As envisioned, the Bridgeport tribal casino would have: 2,000 slot machines, 100 table games, a 500-room hotel, spa, restaurants, and retail shopping.<\/p>\n
MGM Wants Expanded Gaming in Yonkers<\/h2>\n
In January, MGM Resorts acquired the Empire City Casino<\/a> in Yonkers, New York, about an hour\u2019s drive from Bridgeport. The gaming operator wants to expand its offerings there beyond just slots to live classic table games like blackjack and baccarat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mohegan Tribal Council Ex-Chairman Kevin Brown is leaving the council completely following an ethics investigation, according to a Connecticut news report. Brown previously quit the chairman\u2019s post in February for \u201cpersonal reasons.\u201d But last week, his pending departure from the nine-member tribal council was revealed — as was an investigation into alleged violations of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":108109,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13592,18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Mohegan Tribal Council Member Kevin Brown Soon Likely to Resign Following Inquiry - Casino.org Mohegan Tribal Council Member Kevin Brown Soon Likely to Resign Following Inquiry: News Report<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n