Connecticut casino expansion, far from close

Connecticut legislature keeps debating the two opposing bills that are set to create competition to the MGM casino that will open in Sprinfield next year.

US.- Connecticut legislators are far from close to decide wether or not to expand casino gambling in the state to compete with the soon to be open MGM venue in south Massachusetts. As MGM Resorts International’s US$ 950 million casino moves forward, the legislature is divided on the issue with two bills being discussed in Hartford.

The first bill foresees authorising the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to build a satellite casino in East Windsor, outside tribal lands. Its supporters say that its set to prevent thousands of job losses and to preserve the state’s cut of annual slot revenues, projected to be US$ 267 million this year.

The other bill, that has been named the “MGM bill” due to the company’s aggressive lobbying, compels the state Departments of Consumer Protection and Economic and Community Development to create a process for requesting proposals from developers to build a commercial casino anywhere in Connecticut.

“At best, there is a 50-50 chance”, said Rep. Joe Verrengia, D-West Hartford and chairman of the public safety and security committee, which oversees gaming. “I’ve never seen an issue that people are so divided on.” Said division doesn’t seem to be determined by party lines but its mostly geographical: legislative districts where casino workers live are in favor and those where casinos don’t exist are against, say legislative leaders.

Attorney General George Jepsen said that backing the tribes could cost the state its slot revenue and open up to state to court challenges. His opinion, legislators said, has slowed down the debate inside the House.

On the other hand, according to House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Seymour, if another operator were allowed by the legislature to establish a casino in Connecticut, it would kill the revenue-sharing agreement with the tribes.

Meanwhile, Governor Dannel P. Malloy has declined to express his opinion, something that would help legislators who are looking for some direction on what bill he might eventually sign.

“It’s a stall tactic,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk about the “MGM bill.” “This issue has been around for three years. There’s no logical reason to delay this any further.” And he added: “The whole idea is not whether one endorses or doesn’t endorse gambling. It’s about saving thousands of jobs.”

Meanwhile, MGM keeps getting closer to opening its casino in Springfield, jeopardising casino activity, jobs and state’s income in Connecticut.