Casino news from http://www.norwichbulletin.com/
The General Assembly, faced several years ago with the threat of additional tribally owned casinos, revoked the state statute that permitted Las Vegas-style charity games, the loophole in the law that allowed the Mashantucket Pequots to win the legal right to open a casino on its reservation in Eastern Connecticut.
The Legislature went one step further in that action, adding language that stated casino gaming was not permitted in the state.
That change in state statutes has not been challenged in the courts yet, but Attorney General Richard Blumenthal believes it would be upheld.
"Absolutely," Blumenthal said, "it's rock solid. There maybe a legal challenge if another tribe were to win federal recognition, but this law will withstand any challenge."
At least four other tribes have attempted to gain federal recognition, each with plans to build a casino in Connecticut. The Eastern Pequots and Schaghticokes have failed in their efforts so far, but continue to pursue federal status, as do the Golden Hill Paugussetts, who have a reservation in Colchester, and Massachusetts-based Nipmucks, who have some land claims in Northeastern Connecticut.
State Rep. Robert Farr, of West Hartford, the Republican candidate challenging Blumenthal this year, supported the effort to block further casino expansion in the state. He also was a supporter of a similar effort 15 years ago.
"I believed, at that time, that if we had done that, it would have prevented the first from being built," he said.
But lawmakers declined to take that step back then. After losing the court battle with the Mashantuckets, the state negotiated a separate agreement, giving the tribe the exclusive right to operate slot machines in the state in exchange for 25 percent of the slot revenues. The compact was amended 10 years ago to also allow Mohegan Sun to have slot machines.
It has been an extremely lucrative agreement for both tribes and the state. The tribes generate more than $40 million a month in slot revenues for the state. Connecticut's take this year is estimated to be about $425 million.
But that separate agreement also could be the chink in the state's armor in trying to block further casino expansion. It potentially could become another legal loophole negating the state's efforts to prohibit casino gambling.
"Certainly, if I were representing a tribe looking to open a casino, I'd make that argument," Farr said. "I think Connecticut is more vulnerable because of that."
Blumenthal disagrees, noting there is "no legal right" to gamble.
"A state can decide when enough is enough," he said.
Although state officials agree the two existing Indian-owned casinos have been an economic boon in providing jobs, increasing tourism and enhancing the region's and state's economies, no one is anxious to capitalize on their success by allowing others to follow suit -- despite the potential increase to state coffers.
"I consider them partners in economic development and job creation," Gov. M. Jodi Rell said. "After a decade, I believe this partnership works well and I have worked hard to keep the dialogue active and responsive.
"My opposition relating to other tribes has been more accurately focused on the flawed recognition process currently used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, not specifically on gaming expansion," she added. "However, I believe that additional casinos will have a negative and lasting impact on Connecticut's infrastructure and the distinct character of our state."
And although opposition to additional casinos is strong, the opposition to prospects of further expansion at the existing casinos isn't as strong.
"Any further expansion at existing casino locations, while providing potential job growth, must be planned in cooperation with the communities that will be directly affected," Rell said, "most importantly additional road and transportation requirements."
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