The tribes who operate Connecticut’s two casinos say the state will face dire economic consequences if they aren’t allowed to open an additional three casinos. They’re worried about competition from an $800 million casino scheduled to open in 2017 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
At a public safety committee meeting on Tuesday, representatives from the two tribes told lawmakers that competition from the upcoming Massachusetts casino could cost them jobs, and could cost the state revenue.
“If it takes years, then we’ve lost, right?” said Mohegan tribal chairman Kevin Brown. “We don’t have years. The time is now. They are under construction. They’re breaking ground this month, next week in Massachusetts. They have an incredible plan.”
Governor Dannel Malloy didn’t say whether or not he’d sign a bill to allow the new casinos if it passes the state legislature. But he did say the state doesn’t necessarily need any new casinos.
“I think the issue of casinos in our state is settled,” he said. “We have two casinos. I think gaming opportunities are no longer exclusive to Connecticut.”
Malloy said if the state does approve casinos, it shouldn’t expect them to be big revenue drivers. 25 percent of slot machine revenues at the casinos goes to the state of Connecticut. Together, the two casinos also employ about 18,000 people. Some of those workers marched outside the state capitol building in Hartford Tuesday in support of the bill allowing the new casinos.
