Connecticut tribes reject Hartford proposal

The Governor’s proposal to get Connecticut tribes moving their efforts from East Windsor to Hartford has been strongly rejected by both groups.

US.- Governor Ned Lamont wanted two Connecticut tribes to drop their plans for an East Windsor casino and focus on Hartford. Such a proposal was part of a major deal to transform gambling in the state, but the tribes won’t take it.

“They are not willing to walk away from the Tribal Winds Casino in East Windsor,” MMCT spokesman Andrew Doba said. “(It’s) a project where they’ve invested nearly US$20 million.” The MMCT joint venture gathers the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes and pushes for the venue, outside tribal land.

The state governor wants to push for sports betting without litigation between MGM and the MMCT over East Windsor. 

“We’ve had ongoing conversations with the tribes since the first day I came into office, either me or my staff doing this,” Lamont recently told reporters. “Look, let’s face it: internet gambling, sports betting… That’s all been stuck for many years in the state, and I’m looking around at the rest of the country. I’m looking at our neighbouring states and they’re beginning to move ahead. So I’ve got to find a solution that allows us to move ahead.”

However, it seems the tribes are not on-board with this particular proposal, so they’ll have to find another way.