Connecticut’s Expanded Gambling Plan is a Go After Government/Tribes Agreement

Legalized online gambling and sports betting is one step closer to being realized in Connecticut after Governor Ned Lamont reached an agreement with Mohegan tribal chair regarding the comprehensive gambling expansion.

James Gessner Jr., Mohegan Tribal Chair, has together with the Governor released a statement after Paul Mounds’ appearance before the General Assembly’s Public Safety Committee. They told state legislators that there is a precipice of reaching a deal.

Not Everyone is Happy

According to Mounds, the istration’s goal was to include the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in the final agreement.

Rodney Butler, tribal chair, reacted to Foxwoods Resort Casino not being mentioned in limited statement by saying:

“After months of closed-door negotiations, it’s offensive that Governor Lamont would announce an agreement with only one of the two Tribal Nations that have been a party to the negotiations, despite full knowledge that both sovereign Nations are needed to implement any agreement.”

He said that they have participated in these discussions in good faith and consider these events very disrespectful in of substance.

Revenue Under Scrutiny

Online gambling in Connecticut will come with a 20% tax while sports betting will come with a 13.75% tax, generating tens of millions of dollars in new revenue.

The tribes in the state will not have exclusive rights to sports betting, even though they required this as one of the conditions of understanding. Connecticut Lottery Corporation will be operating 15 retail sports betting locations, as well as online sports betting operations.

The lottery will be sub licensing some of the locations to the state-licensed pari-mutuel operator.

Connecticut has considered with how to modernize gambling in the state for years, given the two tribes’ exclusive rights to casino gambling under a compact with the state.

As a replacement for those exclusive rights, the tribes provide the state of Connecticut with 25% of their slot machine revenues. They’ve said that Connecticut may not get that money if other gambling parties were allowed to offer wagering on casino games under their arrangement with the state.

Source:

“Connecticut: Gov. Lamont, Mohegans say they’ve reached gambling expansion deal”, .cdcgamingreports.com, March 3, 2021.