SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — One of the four gambling companies that have expressed an interest in building a casino in Springfield has opened an office in the city.

MGM Resorts International is the first of those companies to establish a physical presence in the city with the opening Tuesday of what it calls a community office on Main Street.

MGM in August unveiled its plans for an $800 million resort casino on 10 acres of land. The proposal includes a 250-room hotel, 89,000 square feet of gambling space and 70,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

Ameristar, Penn National and Hard Rock Entertainment have also expressed an interest in a casino in the city.

State law legalizing casino gambling allows up to three regional casinos, including one in western Massachusetts.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.