HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A bill that would authorize Connecticut’s two federally recognized tribes to open up to three jointly run, smaller-scale casinos cleared a key hurdle Thursday.
The General Assembly’s Public Safety and Security Committee voted 15-to-8 in favor of the legislation, which is being pushed by the owners and operators of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.
“This is one step of many that we have to take in order to get this to the governor’s desk,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Duff, D-Norwalk. “Certainly we’ve won this battle, and we continue to fight the fight for Connecticut jobs.”
The bill awaits further action in the Senate and will likely be referred to other legislative committees.
Lawmakers are now expected to fill in some of the details, which ultimately need to be negotiated between the state and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Sun tribes. Issues remaining include whether workers will be part of a union and how the new, jointly run tribal casino company would operate.
Proponents of the bill say it’s necessary to protect jobs from out-of-state competition, especially the new $800 million MGM Resorts International facility that is expected to open in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts, in about two-and-a-half years. The tribes want to quickly open at least one facility in northern Connecticut, along Interstate 91, to help blunt the competition.
“Whether you’re for gambling or not for gambling, this is simply a logical step to allow the joint compact to move forward with an opportunity to preserve revenue,” said state Sen. Tim Larson, D-East Hartford, the committee’s co-chairman.
Opponents voiced concern Thursday about adding more gambling operations in Connecticut.
“The market for these three facilities is going to be the people who go to gamble just to gamble,” said Rep. J.P. Sredzinski Jr., R-Monroe. “We’re looking to get people’s money before they drive too far. And for me, that is really the reason I’m unable to support this today.”
