Connecticut Governor discusses casinos
The governor of Connecticut said that any casino development in Bridgeport must include the two tribes from the state.
US.- Governor Ned Lamont has talked about the possibility of bringing a casino to Bridgeport, Connecticut. He said that any development in the city must include the two federally recognised tribes from the state, Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequots.
Current regulations give those tribes the exclusive rights to operate gambling in the state. Lamont said that he is committed to both the city and the tribes. This comes after MGM proposed several times a casino in Bridgeport, but the legal agreement that the tribes have with the state makes that impossible.
As part of the agreement with the state, the tribes give 25% of all slot revenue to Connecticut. That percentage returned approximately US$270 million to the state in just 2017.
The Governor talked to the local media on Friday and was asked if there was a possibility of Connecticut striking a deal with MGM, the Lamong said that the tribes “would not cotton to that.”
Andrew Doba, a spokesman for the tribes, said that they appreciate the governor’s stance and look forward to continued discussions in upcoming weeks. “With the right deal in place, we can pass legislation that will save thousands of jobs, spur millions in investment and make Connecticut more competitive with our neighbouring states,” the spokesman said.
