Hartford — Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy plans to sign a bill into law creating a multi-step process for possibly opening a new tribal casino along the Connecticut border to fight out-of-state gambling competition.

Malloy spokesman Mark Bergman told The Associated Press the "governor fully intends to sign it into law." The bill was not ready to be signed Friday.

Under the bill, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes would issue a request for proposals, or RFP, from municipalities interested in hosting one satellite casino to compete with the MGM Resorts casino planned in Springfield, Mass.

That request would be posted on the state Department of Consumer Protection website.

Tribal officials have already said they would likely locate the facility along the Interstate 91 corridor in north central Connecticut.

On Friday, they thanked the General Assembly and Malloy on behalf of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino workers and vendors for approving legislation the tribes said will protect Connecticut jobs.

"Competition from gaming in New York and Massachusetts will impact our state, and we appreciate the support from our government partners," the tribes' two chairmen said in a joint statement.

"In the next weeks we will develop an RFP as outlined in the legislation, and begin to look at possible sites," they said. "At the same time, we will continue to work with the Attorney General's office to ensure that both the state and the Tribes are protected throughout this process."

State Sen. Tim Larson, D-East Hartford, recently explained how the tribes would have to report to the state monthly on their progress with the projects.

Any development agreement reached between the tribes and the community would have to be reviewed by the state attorney general to make sure it doesn't conflict with Connecticut's existing compact with the tribes, which provides the state with 25 percent of the slot machine revenues at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casinos.

Ultimately, a new casino could not operate until the General Assembly amends state law to allow casino gambling. The two existing casinos are located on sovereign tribal land in southeastern Connecticut. Lawmakers have said the project would also be reviewed by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Malloy had voiced concerns with an earlier version of the bill that would have allowed the tribes to open up to three casinos, agreeing with the attorney general that it could prompt legal challenges, risk the state's revenue-sharing agreement with tribes and possibly make it easier for other Connecticut tribes that receive federal recognition to open casinos.

"What I believe is that the legislature can't name a winner, that there has to be a process," Malloy, an attorney, said recently.