Connecticut tribes hope to avoid fight over Keno games

Thursday, March 4, 2010  

Connecticut's two federally-recognized tribes say they want to avoid a court fight over Keno but legal questions remain over the proposal to legalize the game.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe signed Class III gaming compacts with the state that promise exclusivity for Class III games. In exchange, the tribes share revenues from slot machines.

The tribes believe Keno, if legalized, breaks the exclusivity provision. In that case, they say they wouldn't have to share revenues with the state.

If that happens, the state Division of Special Revenue will tell the tribes to stop operating slot machines. "I'm sure we would issue a cease-and-desist that they were in violation of that memorandum and that they no longer have the authority to operate slot machines," executive director Paul A. Young told The New London Day.

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Keno dispute seen as unlikely to turn confrontational (The New London Day 3/4)