State Senate Passes Bill Allowing for New Casino in Connecticut

The Connecticut Senate has voted in favor of a bill that would begin the process of opening a new tribal casino in the state.

Senators voted in favor of the measure on Wednesday night after a more than six-hour unofficial filibuster.

"On behalf of thousands of employees, whose jobs are at risk from gaming competition at the state borders, we thank the members of the state Senate for supporting SB1090 and moving this vital legislation forward," Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown and Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler said in a joint statement. "We will continue to work towards final passage, and we remain committed to working with the Attorney General to protect the state's interest while also protecting 9,300 jobs."

The original proposal allowed for the possibility of three new casinos in Connecticut, but an amended version of the bill focuses instead on casino along Interstate 91 between Springfield and Hartford.

The aim is to cut traffic to a casino being built in Springfield. The bill would allow the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to begin the process of possibly developing a new casino together.

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods were both built on sovereign, tribal land, and lawmakers would have to amend Connecticut’s gaming laws to allow casino gambling.   

The Connecticut House of Representatives still needs to approve the measure.

Opponents of the potential casino facility plan to hold a rally at 1 p.m. on Thursday.  

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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