Connecticut Sen. Bob Duff (D) speaks at a press conference to discuss new tribal casinos. Photo by Max Reiss / NBC Connecticut / Twitter
Lawmakers in Connecticut are drafting a bill to authorize new casinos for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe. The tribes could open up to three casinos. At least one site could be jointly operated in order to compete with a commercial facility in neighboring Massachusetts. "Massachusetts has declared economic war on our state," state Sen. Bob Duff (D) said at a press conference this morning, Max Reiss of NBC Connecticut reported on Twitter. The Pequots operate the Foxwoods Resort Casino and the Mohegans operate the Mohegan Sun. on their respective reservations. New facilities would have to be located on trust land that has not yet been acquired. Generally, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act bars gaming on lands placed in trust after 1988. Both tribes, however, fall under land claim settlements that appear to authorize additional acquisitions in order to establish their reservations. The bill, which has not yet been filed, will be the subject of a hearing on March 17. Get the Story:
Legislators to outline joint Pequot-Mohegan casino pitch (The Connecticut Mirror 3/9)
Lawmakers Propose New Casinos to Defend Against "Economic War" on Connecticut (WNPR 3/10)
Bill Would Allow Up To 3 New Casinos, Run Jointly By Tribes, Lawmakers Say (The Hartford Courant 3/10)
Lawmakers, Tribes Voice Support For New Casinos (AP 3/10)
Lawmakers, tourism officials get behind-the-scenes look at Mohegan Sun (The Norwich Bulletin 3/10)
A new look behind the Mohegan Sun's curtain (The New London Day 3/10) An Opinion:
Our View: Expanded gaming proposal worth a discussion (The Norwich Bulletin 3/10)
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