Former New York Official Wants Sun To Set On Mohegan Sun’s NY Casino Plans

A former New York State official is calling out Mohegan Sun and its plans for a casino in the New York City area. Kamal Bherwani has made a public appeal for the rejection of the joint casino bid by Mohegan and the Soloviev Group following the death of his son at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut.

Bherwani, who has a notable history of public service as the chief information officer for health and human services under former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, has personal reasons fueling his opposition. His son, Ethan Bherwani, died following a fentanyl overdose at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

The incident, which was captured on video and later publicized by the New York Post, showed Ethan collapsing at a blackjack table. It further shows him lying motionless for an extended period before receiving attention from casino staff and medical personnel.

The footage also revealed casino patrons continuing their games and being directed away from the victim, highlighting a lack of immediate response from the casino’s side. Furthermore, Jerrard Santiago, the individual accused of selling the drugs to Ethan, was present at the scene, standing behind Ethan as he collapsed.

Ethan, who had been celebrating his graduation from Baruch College, was declared brain dead upon arrival at Hartford Hospital and passed away nine days later. The medical examiner’s report indicated the presence of multiple substances in his system, with fentanyl being the likely cause of death.

Bherwani says it’s the tribe’s fault

The elder Bherwani has stated that his son’s life could have been saved if immediate medical assistance had been provided. This tragedy has now become intertwined with Bherwani’s professional stance against the proposed casino. He asserts that the casino’s response is indicative of the company’s culture and, therefore, the company lacks the proper values to operate a New York casino.

Bherwani is seeking further justice. He holds the belief that the Mohegan tribe, which operates under its own legal system, attempted to conceal the circumstances of his son’s demise. He asserts that it tried to exploit the fact that the casino is located on a reservation and thus not governed by U.S. laws.

In May 2022, Bherwani initiated a negligence lawsuit against the Mohegan tribe. The tribal court dismissed the case due to a procedural error, but Bherwani intends to lodge another lawsuit, according to the New York Post.

Michael Balboni, a security consultant for the Soloviev-Mohegan proposal, refuted Bherwani’s assertion that Mohegan is unable to ensure the safety of its customers. Balboni pointed out that since 2023, there have been no opioid overdose fatalities among the over six million visitors to the Connecticut-based casino.

High-stakes competition

Mohegan Sun is one of the 11 contenders vying for the three coveted downstate casino licenses. Its proposed project, named Freedom Plaza, is a $4 billion venture aimed at transforming a 6.7-acre site located just south of the United Nations complex on Manhattan’s East Side into a casino and mixed-use development.

The landscape of bidders is diverse, with proposals ranging from traditional gaming complexes to innovative developments that promise to redefine the casino experience in New York. Among the notable competitors are SL Green and Caesars Entertainment, who have set their sights on Times Square, envisioning a new casino that could transform the iconic location into a world-class gaming destination.

Another heavyweight in the race is Hard Rock International. Its proposal is expected to leverage the company’s extensive experience in creating entertainment-focused resorts that could attract a wide demographic of visitors.

Bally’s, Las Vegas Sands, and Wynn Resorts are also in the mix. These industry giants have proposed developments that include not just gaming facilities but also comprehensive entertainment complexes, complete with concert venues, conference centers, and luxury accommodations.

The New York Gaming Facility Location Board will evaluate the bids based on a variety of criteria, including the potential for economic development, job creation, and the bidder’s ability to operate a top-tier gaming facility.

The board has pushed back the deadline for submitting bids to June 27, 2025. This is significantly later than the original deadline of Aug. 31 of this year. The board plans to announce its decision by Dec. 1, 2025, and issue gaming licenses by the end of that year.