The Connecticut House of Representatives is currently reviewing Senate Bill 1090 that would authorize the state’s two federally recognized tribes to build and jointly operate a new casino. However, officials from both the Mohegan and the Mashantucket Pequot tribes voiced concerns about the bill’s fate.
Chuck Bunnell Jr., Council Director of External Affairs for the Mohegans, commented on Wednesday that generally speaking, the bill has many proponents among Connecticut legislators.
Originally, SB 1090 called for the construction of three new gambling venues on the territory of the state as a means to fight competition from neighboring states. However, the 16-page proposal was revised and the Connecticut Legislature was eventually presented with a 3-page one that suggested the building of one casino, which is to be managed by the two tribes.
Apart from the bill, legislators will also have to approve a development agreement, which means that another vote round is likely to be carried out. According to State Rep. Kevin Ryan (D-Montville) and other lawmakers, SB 1090 is to pass through the House of Representatives by June 3, when this legislative session is set to be adjourned.
State Rep. Ryan also said that he is likely to vote in favor of the proposal. He pointed out that the bill’s approval would give the two tribes the opportunity to start looking for a potential location so as to be able to compete with neighboring states and to keep jobs in Connecticut. According to the legislator, the construction of a new casino in the state should not be seen as gambling expansion but rather as “maintaining the status quo.”
State Rep. Doug Dubitsky (R-Chaplin) said that he has not decided yet as to whether he would vote in favor of SB 1090. He pointed out that although the potential new casino is expected to keep jobs within the state, a great number of Southeastern Connecticut residents might remain unemployed and this certainly is something that should be considered by legislators.
Action on SB 1090 is likely to be taken by Monday. Yet, according to officials, certain amendments might be introduced at the last moment and this might result in the proposal being advanced a bit later than initially expected. Speaking of amendments, a version of the bill proposed by the state Senate excluded certain language that would have called for the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to contribute $2.3 million to the treatment of problem gambling this year, $2.7 million in 2016 and so on.
