Online gaming also on the table as Connecticut negotiates with tribes

Thursday, May 24, 2018

The Mohegan Tribe owns and operates Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (D) is adding online gaming to the agenda as he works with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe to address sports betting.

The tribes have been guaranteed exclusivity to Class III games. In exchange, they each share 25 percent of their slot machines revenues with the state.

Malloy hopes to protect that relationship as online gaming and sports betting become legal in the state. According to news reports, he plans to negotiate new agreements with the tribes ahead of a special legislative session this summer.

“It is my opinion, and the opinion of lawyers who have looked at this, that we move forward with a compact where we would not endanger the revenue we receive from the tribes,” Malloy told The Connecticut Post.

Statement from Governor Malloy regarding today's #SCOTUS ruling on sports betting pic.twitter.com/qQgGVPA07M
— Governor Dan Malloy (@GovMalloyOffice) May 14, 2018

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 those kinds of wagers.

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

Both tribes have expressed interest in sports betting and online gaming.

Read More on the Story:
Malloy: Tribes must be in on sports betting (The Connecticut Post May 24, 2018)
Sports betting may be coming to Connecticut — and your iPhone (HartfordBusiness.Com May 24, 2018)
Sports Betting and Online Gaming Up For Discussion (CT News Junkie May 23, 2018)
Connecticut Moving Ahead With Sports Betting, Malloy Plans To Negotiate With Tribes (The Hartford Courant May 23, 2018)
Malloy, tribes could negotiate online gambling as well as sports betting (The New London Day May 23, 2018)
Malloy Wants New Compact With Tribes Before Special Session On Sports Gambling (New England Public Radio May 23, 2018)
Gaming the System [California] (The SF Weekly May 23, 2018)

An Opinion from California:
Kyle Kirkland: Legalized sports gambling in California? The Supreme Court is right – it’s a sure bet (The Sacramento Bee May 24, 2018) (New England Public Radio May 22, 2018) $P

A Whole New World: Sports Betting

Indianz.Com on SoundCloud: Christie v. National Collegiate Athletic Association- U.S. Supreme Court - December 4, 2017

U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Murphy v. NCAA:
Syllabus | Opinion | Concurrence [Thomas] | Concurrence / Dissent [Breyer] | Dissent [Ginsburg]

Supreme Court Documents:
Oral Argument Transcript: Christie v. NCAA / New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Inc. v. NCAA (December 4, 2017)