Editorial: Reject expansion of non-Indian gaming in Connecticut

Keno, the electronic bingo-like gambling game, hasn’t yet debut at Connecticut convenience stores, restaurants or bars and already several lawmakers are calling for yet further expansion of gambling in the state.

A legislative task force, fearing that Connecticut residents might slip across the borders to gamble their money away in a neighboring state, is looking at allowing video gambling -- such as video slot machines -- at Off Track Betting parlors in Bridgeport, New Haven and Windsor Locks.

Connecticut’s two casinos, both of which pay the state 25 percent of all slot revenues in exchange for the exclusive right to offer that form of gambling, are facing increasing competition from gambling venues in neighboring states.

The proposal to allow video gambling will require the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes to agree, and some sort of further compensation to the tribes. As part of the arrangement to introduce Keno, the state is offering the tribes 12.5 percent of that revenue.