Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (D) addresses the mid-year session of the National Congress of American Indians at Mohegan Sun on the Mohegan Reservation on June 13, 2017. Photo: NCAI

Compacts | Connecticut | Legislation

Connecticut governor seeks to negotiate sports betting with tribes

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (D) wants to negotiate a new Class III gaming compact that will address sports betting following a landmark decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe have already expressed an interest in working with the state on sports betting. A new agreement could be put before lawmakers during a special session this summer.

"The future is now and its happened," Malloy told members of the media on Tuesday, The Connecticut Post.

"It’s going to be complicated, but I do believe we should get it done this summer,’’ the governor added, The Hartford Courant reported..

Under existing agreements, tribes share 25 percent of their slot machine revenues with the state. In exchange, they are guaranteed exclusivity to Class III games.

The tribes updated their arrangements to account for a new casino they are developing pursuant to state law. But the Trump administration has refused to sign off and the issue is now the subject of litigation in federal court.

If the tribes were to incorporate sports betting into the agreements, they would have to be sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for review.

On May 14, the Supreme Court struck down a federal law that some believed prevented states from legalizing sports betting. With that hurdle out of the way, Connecticut is free to authorize such wagers during the expected special session.

And if that happens, tribes would be able to offer the same types of games, according to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a federal law.

Tribes around the country are considering sports betting in the wake of the decision, with the Oneida Nation already taking action in New York, where such wagering is considered legal under state law. The tribe doesn't believe it needs to update its Class III gaming compact to account for the new legal development.

Read More on the Story:
Malloy: tribes must be in on sports betting (The Connecticut Post May 22, 2018)
Gov. Malloy Getting Ready for Sports Betting (The Hartford Courant May 22, 2018)
Malloy to open sports betting talks with tribes (The Connecticut Mirror May 22, 2018)
Counties await sports betting regulations [New York] (The Batavia News May 22, 2018)
Could special session on sports betting take up other gambling matters? [Connecticut] (The New London Day May 21, 2018)
After Supreme Court ruling, how soon will you be able to bet on sports at FireKeepers? [Michigan] (The Battle Creek Enquirer May 16, 2018)

Some Opinions:
David Collins: Bargain gambling at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun? [Connecticut] (The New London Day May 22, 2018)
Ask the Judge by Mark McCabe: What next now that PASPA is gone? [Michigan] (The Tri-County Times May 22, 2018)
Tom Lawrence: Wanna bet states legalize sports betting? [South Dakota] (The Black Hills Pioneer May 22, 2018)
Editorial: A risky bet for Virginia (The Newport News Daily Press May 21, 2018)