Connecticut’s third tribal casino will start construction later this month, despite federal “obfuscation” by rival MGM Resorts.

On Thursday, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) chairman Kevin Brown told investors that his company and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe planned to commence demolition this month of the old cinema that currently sits on the site of the two tribes’ proposed joint venture casino project in East Windsor.

The MMCT Venture’s plan to build the $300m casino off tribal land in the northern part of the state has been stymied by MGM, which wants to build its own Connecticut casino in Bridgeport. The East Windsor casino is intended to cater to Connecticut gamblers who might otherwise head further north to MGM Springfield, the $960m venue set to open in Massachusetts in September.

MMCT has also had to deal with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which has yet to approve the tribes’ amended gaming compact with the state, despite the expiration of the 45-day window in which the BIA is required to respond to such requests. In December, the tribes and the state sued the US Department of the Interior (DOI) and its Secretary Ryan Zinke over this delay.