Connecticut lawmakers are taking another swing at legalizing sports betting.
On 31 July 2019, Connecticut legislators revealed a draft bill that would expand the state’s gambling industry.
The bill is “an act concerning jobs in and revenue from the gaming industry,” and aims to legalize sports wagering in the Constitution State.
Senator Cathy Osten, the author from the bill, hopes to convene a special session from the state legislature to officially introduce the bill later this year. Nevertheless, if a unique session is not held, Osten will officially introduce the bill throughout the state’s 2020 legislative session.
The proposed legislation would allow the Mashantucket Pequot and also the Mohegan tribes to open land-based sportsbooks at their venues.
The bill may also grant the tribes the exclusive correct to provide on-line sports betting, online casino games and online poker within the state of Connecticut. The tribes will allow be able to provide e-sports goods.
Whilst the tribes will be allowed to offer several different types of on-line gambling, the Connecticut Lottery could be allowed to sell tickets on-line and offer on-line keno games.
The tribes may also be granted permission to develop a new casino in Bridgeport which will be run by each tribal groups.
Below the bill, online gambling revenue will be subject to a tax price of 10%, whilst land-based sports betting will probably be topic to an 8% tax rate. The 36-page bill does not cover licensing fees.
The bill does not go into a lot of detail on sports betting but does state that wagering on high college events will be prohibited.
Connecticut’s Governor Ned Lamont doesn’t support the bill in its present state.
Inside a statement issued last week, Lamont stated “a matter of such significance requires substantial involvement from numerous stakeholders, in specific, the executive branch. Some thing this complex should not be negotiated without all necessary parties and definitely not behind closed doors.”
A report from WSHU, also quoted Lamont as saying “I do have an ongoing concern that sports betting and web gambling have been locked up with a legal cloud hanging more than it for a while. So I’ve got to create sure that any deal we are in a position to come forward with doesn’t lead us to another year upon year of litigation, and quit us dead in the tracks.”
The bill could also come below fire from MGM Resorts, which has lobbied for the rights to run its own casino in the Bridgeport area.