Connecticut lawmakers oppose private casino
Some Connecticut lawmakers continue their opposition to the competitive process launched to build a private casino.
US.- Lawmakers from Bridgeport and New Haven are pushing to get a competitive process launched to determine where a private casino should be located in Connecticut. However, the bill will be objected by some key senators that have already voiced their opposition to the project.
Sen. Cathy Osten said he doubts the bill will proceed but advanced he will “vehemently oppose it” and said: “Connecticut is already on track to open a new tribal casino in East Windsor that will protect existing casino jobs in the state and grow new jobs, which will help our economy, and that progress shouldn’t be derailed.”
Furthermore, Sen. Tim Larson (co-chairman of the legislature’s public safety and security committee, which oversees gaming) added: “This proposal is just another attempt by MGM to wave snake oil in front of legislators, and it comes after a year of thoughtful deliberation in which legislators and advocates painstakingly describe the need to preserve existing casino jobs in eastern Connecticut.”
The bill aims to establish the first step in a two-stage competitive process that would direct the Commissioners of Consumer Protection and Economic and Community Development to solicit responses to an RFP for a proposed commercial casino gaming facility; evaluate the responses; and select a single, qualified responder for the legislature to consider.
