NORWICH, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut officials and the state’s two federally recognized tribes expressed optimism Thursday that online gambling and sports wagering will become a reality across the state by the fall, in time for the new professional football season.
A deal reached last week between Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont’s office and the leaders of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribal nations, owners and operators of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino, cleared a key legislative committee on Wednesday. The governor’s office is now clarifying some details before a final version of the bill is presented to the full House of Representatives for a vote, possibly in about two weeks.
If both the House and Senate pass the legislation, which allows Lamont to enter into amended gambling agreements with the two tribes, the U.S. Department of Interior will ultimately have to approve the deal.
“The goal is to be placing bets on sports by this NFL season,” said Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, at a news conference on the steps of Norwich City Hall. Butler predicted that once the legislation clears the General Assembly, it will take about 60-to-90 days to get final federal approval.
“And then from the back end, from a technology perspective, we’re both ready to launch,” Butler said of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.
Lamont, who appeared with Butler and Mohegan Tribal Chairman James Gessner Jr. at the Norwich event, said he’s also hopeful the process will move quickly.
“I want the Legislature to move this thing forward as fast as we can - a good clean bill, simple and ready to go. I think we have some folks down at the Department of Interior ready to move this along,” he said. “Why not? Let’s get going for this fall.”
Butler predicted the state could reap about $70 million to $80 million from its share of the sports wagering and online gambling revenues, in addition to the state’s existing 25% share of slot machine revenues.
House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, acknowledged it could be difficult to get the bill passed in two weeks, given the various committee deadlines. But he said it’s still possible if Lamont can sign off quickly on the final version of the bill.
“We know we’d like to do it in April because that gives them an opportunity to be up and running for the NFL season, which we know is important from a marketing standpoint and getting people signed up,” he said. ’So if we can do it, we’d like to.”
Both tribal leaders said they’re hopeful passages of the online gambling and sports betting legislation will lead to the return of thousands of workers who’ve been laid off since both Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun closed for much of 2020 due to the pandemic. The two facilities each have about 3,000 workers currently back on the job. Prior to COVID-19, each had about 5,000 employees.
“It’s going to give us the ability to bring those employees back.” Gessner said.
Butler said he expects the online wagering apps launched by each casino will ultimately lead to more foot traffic at the two sprawling, southeastern Connecticut gambling and entertainment resorts, where sports betting will also be offered. The agreement also allows the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to offer sports wagering and some online games.
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