Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and James Gessner, interim chairman of the Mohegan Tribe, said they are “extremely grateful for the bipartisan support.” However, the legislation would create jobs and keep Connecticut-based businesses, “which right now we’re seeing does go out of state,” he said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of individuals that have concerns about expanding gaming at all,” he said. The bill could be a tough sell among Republican lawmakers, Davis said.

“Now we have the combined effort of three delegations.” “I believe the problem was we were not cohesive in our messaging,” she said.

Osten said lawmakers from delegations representing Bridgeport, southeast Connecticut and East Windsor, where the two tribes are planning another casino to stem traffic to the MGM Springfield casino, were key players in drafting the legislation. Bridgeport would benefit from jobs and economic development and the two casinos could capitalize on online and sports gambling “that they’ve been pushing for for years,” he told reporters. Christopher Davis, R-Ellington, said a coalition emerged to support the legislation. “Any deviation from that creates legal challenge and does a massive disservice to the constituents of Connecticut,” he said. The prospect of a lawsuit was raised by Richard McGuire, Sportech’s CEO who said sports betting licensing should be awarded equally to state gambling operators. If a court overturns any part of the law, the bill is rescinded. The legislation places all of the financial risk on the tribes. That’s what they’ve done in the state of Connecticut, to stymie growth in business.”

Osten brushed aside the threat of a lawsuit. However, MGM said in previous years it would “vigorously advocate in the courts” to protect the constitutional right of companies doing business in Connecticut and insisted on a competitive process in the selection of a casino. MGM Resorts, which operates casinos in Springfield and Yonkers, N.Y., has considered Bridgeport as a site for a casino.Ī spokesman said MGM would not comment. The prospect of a lawsuit hovers over any deal between the state and the Mohegans, who operate the Mohegan Sun, and Mashantucket Pequots, who run Foxwoods. He also said the governor wants a “global resolution that mitigates the likelihood of years of litigation.” The measure is “not good enough” because it authorizes, rather than requires, a meaningful project in Bridgeport, Reiss said.

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