{"id":4843,"date":"2018-04-19T21:28:06","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T21:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=4843"},"modified":"2018-04-20T16:58:56","modified_gmt":"2018-04-20T16:58:56","slug":"connecticut-ag-warns-against-going-rogue-on-east-windsor-casino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/connecticut-ag-warns-against-going-rogue-on-east-windsor-casino\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut AG Warns Against Going Rogue On East Windsor Casino"},"content":{"rendered":"
Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen<\/strong>\u00a0just threw the proverbial bucket of cold water on Mohegan Sun\u2019s<\/strong> and Foxwoods\u2019 East Windsor<\/a><\/strong> tribal casino project<\/a>. He cautioned the state to not go ahead with the project until it hears from the Department of the Interior<\/strong> (DOI).<\/p>\n The state legislature approved the casino project last year. That is, pending approval by the DOI<\/strong><\/p>\n The problem is the DOI has yet to rule<\/strong> on the matter. To this point, the DOI has balked<\/strong> at making a decision of any kind on the tribal casino project.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, with an MGM casino<\/strong> set to open in a few months in Springfield, Massachusetts<\/strong><\/a>, the tribes and the Connecticut legislature are growing increasingly frustrated with waiting. Now they are exploring any and all options to speed up the process. That includes lawsuits<\/strong>. It also entailed asking the Connecticut AG to weigh in on a plan to bypass the DOI<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On April 17, the Connecticut AG submitted a letter to the Connecticut Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz<\/strong>. In the letter, he derided the idea.<\/p>\n Jepsen\u2019s opinion warns the legislature against green-lighting the casino through legislative action. If lawmakers did that, they would circumvent the need for the DOI to approve the changes to the current gaming compacts between the state and the tribes.<\/p>\n In his formal opinion<\/a> Jepsen concluded:<\/p>\n According to Jepsen, the legislature would be playing a risky game<\/strong> if it forgoes the provision requiring DOI approval:<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough we have confidence in the position we have taken that the amendments should be treated as deemed approved, it remains possible that the court could rule adversely. To take action on the assumption that the State and Tribes will succeed in the ongoing litigation would be highly imprudent.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n And with that, the chances for legislative action this year are close to zero. The fate of the East Windsor casino project is now at the mercy of the DOI.<\/p>\n With the East Windsor casino stuck in the mud, MGM Resorts<\/strong> has swooped into Connecticut. It brings its own ideas for generating gaming revenue.<\/p>\n The gaming-industry heavyweight is pushing the state to scrap<\/strong> the East Windsor idea. MGM suggest to open up a casino bidding process instead. An open process could lead to a commercial casino<\/strong><\/a> coming to Connecticut.<\/p>\n In his opinion, Jepsen seemed to sign off on the idea of studying the situation<\/strong>. He elaborated:<\/p>\n \u201cLegislation similar to Special Act 15-7 that would provide for a request for proposal process for sports betting or casino gaming, but requiring subsequent legislation to actually authorize such activity, would not affect the existing gaming arrangements with the Tribes.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The tribes argue the mere act of studying commercial casinos in Connecticut will put the state on a path that leads to the nullification of the existing tribal gaming compacts. If that happens, it would end the lucrative revenue-sharing agreement<\/strong> tribes have with the state of Connecticut.<\/p>\n As such, simply considering the option of opening the state up to a casino bidding process could\u00a0be very problematic.<\/p>\n Both sides have bickered back and forth<\/a> and attempted to discredit<\/a> the others fiscal findings. With the AG\u2019s opinion likely shelving the tribal casino project for the time being, this fight is likely to increase in intensity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The post Connecticut AG Warns Against Going Rogue On East Windsor Casino<\/a> appeared first on Play MA<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen\u00a0just threw the proverbial bucket of cold water on Mohegan Sun\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"vebbtech_seo_disable_yoast":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_author":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_date":false,"vebbtech_seo_hide_factchecker":false,"vebbtech_seo_fact_check_enabled":false,"vebbtech_seo_post_reviewer":0,"vebbtech_seo_post_review_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4843","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-link","6":"category-news-category","7":"post_format-post-format-link"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNot the opinion the state was looking for<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Delay will likely further agitate the situation<\/span><\/h2>\n