Press Releases
06/26/2017
Gov. Malloy Signs Legislation Authorizing East Windsor Entertainment and Gaming Facility
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy this afternoon signed legislation that will authorize the operation of an entertainment and casino gaming facility in East Windsor, subject to certain conditions.
The legislation, Public Act 17-89 – An Act Concerning the Regulation of Gaming and the Authorization of a Casino Gaming Facility in the State, was adopted by both chambers of the state legislature with broad, bipartisan support. It specifies that the casino will be owned and operated by MMCT Venture, LLC, a joint venture of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes.
As required under the legislation, a $1 million initial payment will be made by MMCT to the State of Connecticut. Under the regular operations of the casino, the state will receive 25 percent of gross gaming revenue (GGR) from the operation of video facsimile games, and 25 percent of GGR from all other authorized games, with 10 percent of that amount going to the state’s tourism efforts and the remaining 15 percent toward the state’s general fund. Additionally, MMCT will give $300,000 annually to address the issue of problem gambling. The costs of regulatory oversight conducted by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) will also be borne by MMCT. Furthermore, the towns of Ellington, Enfield, South Windsor, Windsor Locks, East Hartford, and Hartford will receive annual grants from the state of $750,000.
“Over the years, our state has maintained a longstanding partnership and compact with the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribal nations, who employ thousands of Connecticut residents at their casinos,” Governor Malloy said. “Make no mistake about it – the legislation I signed today is about jobs for the residents of Connecticut, and securing those jobs in our state.”
“This bill protects Connecticut jobs and adds new ones – it’s good for our economy and our workforce,” Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said. “It also speaks to our long relationship with Connecticut’s tribal nations and the importance of that partnership and the compact.”
“Today the Governor signed one of the most significant jobs bills passed by the General Assembly this legislative session,” Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Chairman Rodney Butler said. “With so much at stake, we can’t thank him and his partners in the legislature enough for standing with us in our fight to save jobs and revenue in Connecticut.”
“With a stroke of the pen, we are that much closer to turning our proposal for an entertainment and gaming facility in East Windsor into reality,” Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman Kevin Brown said. “We’re excited about the future, and tremendously thankful for the leadership of the Governor and the many legislators from both parties who rallied to protect jobs in our state that would otherwise have been lost.”
The legislation gives DCP oversight, licensing, and regulation over the East Windsor casino, and any other casino that may be authorized by the legislature in the future. The agency will adopt regulations to ensure proper, safe, and orderly conduct of the casino’s operations, and will license all gaming facility employees and vendors.
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