Gambling expansion in Connecticut is set to receive a fair amount of attention this week as four bills on the matter are set to be discussed in the Legislature’s Public Safety and Security Committee, local newspaper The Day reports
In his budget speech last week, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont somewhat endorsed the legalization of sports betting by saying that the state needs new sources of revenue and that sports betting and Internet wagering could be two such sources.
State Senator Cathy Osten has introduced a bill authorizing Connecticut’s two federally recognized tribes – the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans – to offer sports betting services at their casinos and via smartphones. The legislation, if passed, would also allow the Connecticut Lottery to roll out an online keno product “pursuant to agreements” with the two tribes.
If the measure succeeds through the Legislature, it could pave the way for Connecticut to become the next state in New England to go live with sports gambling. Rhode Island is currently the only state in the region to provide legal betting services. Its Twin River casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton went live with in-person betting late last year. A bill authorizing mobile wagering is currently under review in the Rhode Island General Assembly.
Casino Measures
The Public Safety and Security Committee is set to host tomorrow a public hearing and to collect testimony on four gambling bills. The hearing is scheduled for 10 am local time and will take place at Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in the capital Hartford.
Aside from sports betting, the bills are also focused on the future of the state’s casino industry. Connecticut is currently home to two tribal casinos – Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned by the Mashantucket Pequots, and Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegans.
The two tribes have been given the nod to jointly build a casino resort in East Windsor to keep gambling revenue within the state and blunt gaming competition from the recently launched MGM Springfield in neighboring Massachusetts.
However, each of the two tribes needs to have their individual renewed agreements with the state approved by the US Department of the Interior. The agency has given the nod to the Mohegans’ compact with Connecticut, but is yet to act on the other tribe’s agreement.
A bill spearheaded by Sen. Osten calls for the elimination of the federal approval requirement. If passed, the piece would pave the way for the two tribes to finally commence work on their joint casino project.
Another measure calls for the opening of a bidding process for an integrated casino resort in Bridgeport. MGM is pushing the bill for a third year. In 2017, a similar legislation was introduced but failed to reach the House floor. Last year, it barely survived a House vote, but the Senate never voted on it. It is to be seen how far the legislation will go this time.
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