Connecticut's Race to the Bottom!

From:

Malloy's ratings sink in QPoll

Neil Vigdor and Ken Dixon

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The poll repudiates a plan by Democratic lawmakers and the two Indian casinos to build as many as three new gambling centers.

While most voters surveyed approve current legal gambling by 62 to 29 percent, they oppose the expansion of casinos by a whopping 75 to 20 percent. Respondents opposed the construction of smaller casinos near Massachusetts and New York state by 59 to 36 percent.

However, voters ages 18 to 34 support that plan by 54 to 46 percent.

The casino-expansion findings are a "benchmark" for lawmakers to consider, Schwartz said.

"It's where the voters stand right now on the issue, but it could change as proponents of casino expansion make their case we'll see whether they'll be able to sway voters to their side."

On Tuesday, Democrats and the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes announced a legislative proposal to first build a casino north of Hartford to compete with the late-2017 opening of the MGM casino in Springfield, Mass., then possibly build other casinos near Bridgeport and Danbury.



http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Q-Poll-finds-state-residents-oppose-more-casinos-6127759.php

3 new gaming facilities proposed for Connecticut

Could result in small casinos near Massachusetts and New York lines

By Anthony Fay and Ryan Walsh, 22News Investigative Reporter

Published: March 10, 2015

 

HARTFORD, Conn. (WWLP) – Using fighting words toward their northern neighbor, Connecticut Democratic senators vowed to fight back against Massachusetts, where incoming casinos could pose a major threat to their tourist industry and revenues. Tuesday, the lawmakers announced legislation that would allow up to three new gaming facilities in Connecticut.

 

“Massachusetts has declared economic war on us, and we’re going to strike back,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) said.

 

The facilities, whose locations are not yet determined, would include slots and possibly table games, but no hotel, and likely no entertainment venues. Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven) said that they would be closely looking at a site located between Hartford and Springfield to deal specifically with the threat posed by MGM. Sen. Duff told 22News that is an obvious option, “I would imagine it would be some place between Hartford and Springfield.”

 

Connecticut, which is home to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, has seen a loss in casino revenue with new competition from gaming facilities in Rhode Island and New York. The prospect of a new casino so close to the Hartford area (in addition to two other casinos and a slots parlor elsewhere in Massachusetts) has many Connecticut and tribal officials worried about further losses.

 

This bill, which will be formally introduced Wednesday, is a long way from a reality. If it does get signed this session, however, Mohegan Tribal Leader Kevin Brown said there would be a plan to open a gaming facility before MGM Springfield has their grand opening.

 

Mohegan Sun spent years and millions of dollars trying to bring a casino to first Palmer, then Revere. Palmer voters rejected their plan. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission ultimately choose a Wynn casino in Everett over Mohegan’s plan at Suffolk Downs.

 

(Would you be pursuing this if you had one either the licenses in Massachusetts?)

 

“That’s an interesting question, I’ve said before that I don’t think the Massachusetts Gaming Commission respected or recognized the Venn diagram that we were drawing for them that would have ensured success for both the state of Massachusetts and continued sustained success for the state of Connecticut, now we’re focused on our own state,” said Brown.

 

Duff said that a casino in Springfield would bus customers from Hartford into Springfield, with up to 80% of MGM customers who arrive by bus coming from Connecticut.

 

“We won’t let Massachusetts bus out our jobs,” Duff said.

 

In response to Connecticut’s announcement, MGM Springfield spokesman Carole Brennan sent 22News this statement, “We are confident that as a mixed-use urban revitalization project our innovative downtown design, tested marketing plan and strong brand will make MGM Springfield a unique destination resort casino in the Northeast. We look forward to a March 24 groundbreaking and officially kicking off our construction phase.”

 

Related Coverage: Casino News

 

Senator Cathy Osten (D-Baltic) represents a district that includes Ledyard, home of Foxwoods, and said that the proposed gaming expansion is about saving good-paying jobs in Connecticut.

 

“We will not stand aside and let any other state, New York, Massachusetts, or Rhode Island, take jobs away from Connecticut,” Osten said.

 

The new gaming facilities be would be run by the tribes that operate Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, but state would have greater control, since they would not be on tribal land.

 

Any city or town that would host a gaming facility would first have to approve the plan to build.

 

 

http://wwlp.com/2015/03/10/ct-lawmakers-to-propose-bill-for-more-casinos/