Connecticut’s General Assembly may fail to strike a gambling expansion deal before the end of the legislative session, as a casino bill may not gain the necessary House support.
A bill that provides for the construction of a commercial casino in the state’s northern part passed the Senate but has been stuck in the Legislature’s lower chamber for some time now. The legislative proposal needs to be voted on before the end of this year’s legislative session so as for Connecticut’s two federally recognized tribes – the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans – to be able to move forward with their joint casino venture as quickly as possible.
The two tribes are each operating a casino on tribal land in the southeastern part of the state. In 2015, they were selected as the preferred bidders for the construction of a $300-million casino in North Connecticut, a venue that would compete directly with MGM Springfield, the $950-million resort Las Vegas-based operator MGM Resorts International is currently building in neighboring Massachusetts.
It became clear after a Monday meeting of House lawmakers that a separate bill may be attached to the existing casino proposal. The new legislative piece will call for the addition of slot machines at off-track betting venues in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury and the construction of a boutique casino with slot machines and table games in Hartford.
Connecticut’s 2017 ordinary legislative session is set to end on June 7, which means that legislators have only two days to determine their next move. House Representatives have several options before them – to approve the existing casino bill in its current form and send it to Gov. Dannel Malloy’s desk, to amend the bill, which means that it will then need approval from the Senate, or to add more gambling expansion-related provisions.
House Representatives revealed that the second bill may also require the two tribes to pay a license fee of $25 million in order to be able to build their joint casino. Lawmakers from the General Assembly’s lower chamber pointed out that even though the tribe’s existing casinos have long contributed funds to the state’s coffers, they should apply for a license and pay a due fee.
If the casino plan is approved, this would mean that Connecticut will have its first non-tribal casino. The property is planned to be built in East Windsor at the site of a former cinema complex.
Commenting on the current state of affairs, House Majority Leader Matt Ritter told media that all plans currently discussed will imminently face litigation. The construction of a new casino will be brought to court by opponents, including MGM Resorts, as they have long criticized the Legislature’s decision to accept only the two tribes’ joint bid and to neglect proposals from other interested operators.
