Nearly a year ago, we observed that the sooner the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes, operating under their MMCT Venture partnership, could settle on a proposed third casino north plan and present it to the legislature, the better the prospects of gaining the necessary legislative support.

Unfortunately, another year was lost with no decision. The political landscape has likewise shifted. This is beginning to take on the appearance of an opportunity lost. Meanwhile, the construction of the massive MGM Springfield, Mass. casino has begun. The work may be ahead of the planned September 2018 opening.

In 2015, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes, operators of the Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun casinos on their reservations in southeastern Connecticut, to form their joint venture and prepare a proposal for a third casino.

Frankly, not enough has happened since. Original plans called for a casino site to be selected in time for the legislature to act on it in 2016. That did not happen and the vetting drags on, well behind schedule. Sites in East Hartford, East Windsor, Hartford, South Windsor, and Windsor Locks are under consideration.

The strategy behind the third casino proposal remains solid. Located in the greater Hartford area, a third Connecticut casino would keep more patrons in that densely populated area in Connecticut, rather than heading to the MGM in Massachusetts, and keep the jobs in state as well. While the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort casinos in this area would still lose some gaming business, their overall business outlook would be stronger with the third casino.

While not enamored with this thought of a third casino, this newspaper recognizes that gaming operations are major employers for the state, due to both the workers the casinos directly employ and the jobs found at the hundreds of contractors who service these massive operations. If Connecticut does nothing, the added gaming competition from other states will result in significant job losses and lost revenue for the state.

MGM has challenged the plan as unconstitutional, claiming it cannot compete fairly for a Connecticut casino. The matter is now before the Connecticut Appellate Court. Our expectation is that MGM will lose, as it did in lower court.

The bigger threat is that political support for the plan will dissolve. The tribes need to present a plan to lawmakers soon after the session begins next month. It may already be too late.