Connecticut will move forward with the expansion of its casino industry without the state conducting the proposed study on the matter after a bill that has caused quite a lot of controversy over the past several months was rejected by Commerce Committee members.
The bill called for a comprehensive study on the proposed establishment of a third tribal casino within Connecticut’s borders to be carried out. Members of the Legislature’s Commerce Committee, however, killed the legislation on Thursday in a 11-7 vote. It is interesting to note that the bill was sponsored by Rep. Chris Perone, who is actually Co-chairman of the said committee.
Following the Thursday negative vote, Rep. Perone told media that he was disappointed by the fact that the state is to expand its casino gambling industry without doing the necessary due diligence.
Last year, a state law allowing Connecticut’s two federally recognized tribes – the Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots, to open a third “satellite” casino was enacted. The state’s third casino is to be built in the Greater Hartford area in a bid to compete with MGM Resorts International’s $950-million casino complex that is currently being constructed in Springfield, a city located not far from Massachusetts’ border with Connecticut. The luxury resort is slated to open doors in 2018.
The Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots have previously pointed out that they want to beat the Massachusetts casino’s opening date in order to prevent gambling customers and much-needed revenue from being lost from the state.
In fact, the two tribes wanted to build a third casino in the state namely because Connecticut has lost more than 9,000 casino jobs and over $100 million in annual revenue from slot machines as a result from the opening of new casinos in neighboring states, according to a recent study.
Commenting on the push for another study on the proposed casino expansion to be conducted, officials for the two tribes said that they found the bill a delaying tactic, one that would hamper them to proceed with their plan as quickly as possible. The Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans further noted that there have been enough studies on the matter – two conducted by the tribes themselves and one by MGM Resorts International.
Currently, the two tribes are looking for the most suitable location for the new casino. Once found, they will need to return to the state Legislature for an ultimate approval of the proposed casino expansion. However, one may not be granted.
