Connecticut lawmakers have raised the “mini casinos” issue for Bridgeport, New Haven and Waterbury before the vote for the East Windsor casino facility. House leaders are still considering a number of literally last-minute options for further expansion of the Connecticut’s casino gambling industry.
With only a couple of days left until the end of the current legislative session, the pressure over local lawmakers has been piling, as time is running out. In addition, Connecticut lawmakers have been put in the middle of the high-stakes battle between the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes that have both been trying to win the rights to build an East Windsor-located satellite casino that has been assessed as a worthy competition of the Massachusetts-located MGM’s Springfield casino that has still been under construction.
A bill that approved adding a casino facility in East Windsor has been passed by the Senate. The bill approved such a project to be developed by a partnership between by the above-mentioned Indian tribes. However, according to Joe Aresimowicz, a House Speaker Democrat, the issue would hardly make it to a special session.
According to media reports, the casino project in East Windsor will save jobs and revenue that the state gets from the tribes. Still, the East Windsor plan has been put under question, as the Senate has previously approved it, but the local House leaders claim that they have not gathered the necessary votes for the idea.
At a news conference held on Monday, Mr. Aresimowicz also shared his belief that the bill could be passed by the House but only alongside additional legislation seeking to allow gambling expansion in Hardford, Bridgeport and Waterbury. In fact, the House has taken in consideration such a two-vote strategy in order to approve the East Windsor casino venue as part of a legislation package including a second bill. The latter, on the other hand, would provide a mixture of other proposals, including the idea of a licensing fee amounting to at least $25 million.
Under a plan that has been unveiled over the weekend, the off-track betting venues could be granted with slot machines and even other forms of gambling activities. This mostly concerns the facilities located in Bridgeport and New Haven, but the cities of Hartford and Waterbury are also being considered.
Matt Ritter, House Majority Leader and a Hartford Democrat Representative, also commented on the considered gambling expansion on the state of Connecticut. He explained that he did not actually believe that Hartford would be able to provide the necessary economic environment for the casino and gaming expansion.
Unfortunately, for the time being, the local House of Representatives does not seem to be anywhere near a final decision on the gambling expansion in the state of Connecticut. Time is running out for the House to provide some answers related to the gambling expansion push in the state.
- Author
Daniel Williams
