UNCASVILLE, CONN. — Construction began this week on the Mohegan tribe’s newest project — called Casino of the Wind — which will feature 45,000 square feet of space for gambling and a Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant overlooking the Thames River in Connecticut.

The new partnership between the Mohegans and the restaurant was forged because both business groups sought to expand, said Mitch Etess, president and chief executive officer of the Mohegan Sun, after a blessing ceremony on Thursday at the entrance to the tribe’s existing Casino of the Sky.

Instead of sticking shovels in the dirt, tribal members and business partners toasted each other with virgin margaritas as mayors from the town of Montville and city of Norwich joined in.

The two-story, 16,000-plus-square-foot restaurant will feature an outdoor dining terrace that seeks to give diners the experience of being transported from Connecticut woodlands to the island beaches of the Florida Keys, complete with music from the Florida Keys’ Screw-pile Lighthouse.

On the second level, wind from the casino will spiral down a 30-foot spinning waterspout, replenishing an 8-foot-high blender with the green tropical drinks every hour.

Gambling in the 64,000-square-foot Casino of the Wind will include 16 table games, 825 slot machines and a 43-table House of Blues Poker Room. It is being built adjacent to the Casino of the Sky.

The project is part of the tribe’s $740-million Project Horizon that will be completed by 2010.

Project Horizon will add a 1,000-room hotel; partnership with House of Blues; and 115,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. This summer, Sunrise Square will open featuring Asian gaming in the Casino of the Earth.

Skanska USA Building, based in Parsippany, N.J., will be construction manager for Project Horizon while Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, of Irvine, Calif., will be the architect.