The Connecticut Senate is in the process of reviewing a shortened version of a 16-page bill that was introduced a few months ago and if passed into law, would allow the state’s two federally recognized tribes to open a joint casino. Thus, they would be able to blunt the competition coming from neighboring states.
Currently, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe manages Foxwoods Resorts Casino, and the Mohegan Tribe operates the Mohegan Sun. Both venues are located on tribal land in the southeastern part of the state.
The 3-page, 75-line-long version of the bill, which might be voted by the Senate later this week, proposes a mechanism that would allow cities to make their own bids for the new casino. As it was pointed out in the paper, all municipalities on the territory of Connecticut could ask for a gambling venue.
The bill refers to the potential joint venture between the state’s two tribes as a “tribal businesses entity” and notes that they would be authorized to issue “a request for proposals to municipalities” concerning the construction of a casino on the territory of those municipalities.
If the tribes issue such request, they would also need to submit it to the Department of Consumer Protection.
Although all cities would be able to apply for a casino, the tribes commented that they would rather focus their attention on blunting the competition that is to come from the $800-million MGM Resorts International gambling venue, which is to open doors in Springfield, Massachusetts by the end of 2017.
Under the proposed bill, a casino could not be built before the Connecticut General Assembly and the US Bureau of Indian Affairs approve any amendments of the compacts between the state and the tribes.
Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff noted that the changes in the casino bill would certainly delay the two tribes’ plan to launch a casino as soon as possible, in order to be able to combat competition from neighboring states. Yet, he pointed out that this is the right path for both the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans to protect jobs at their existing gambling venues. Currently, more than 9,300 are employed at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resorts Casino.
According to Sen. Duff, the revised bill might be voted on Tuesday or Wednesday. If approved by the two state Senate chambers, the proposal would be effective once Gov. Dannel Malloy signs it.
