In a quest for extra money, state legislators are exploring the idea of bringing slot machines to New Haven’s sleepy off-track betting arena.
The proposal emerged in the legislative session that ended last week. The proposal didn’t make it into the budget, but it did make it on the agenda of ideas legislators plan to investigate for the future.
The idea emerged as the state moves to swiftly expand gaming across the state by legalizing Keno, a bingo-like game.
New Haven state Rep. Roland Lemar is one of three legislators who came forward at a June 3 press conference calling on the legislature to set up a task force to study the idea of bringing slot machines to three off-track betting arenas in New Haven, Bridgeport and Windsor Locks.
Lemar said he does not support or oppose the idea; he said it is worth taking a look at. Currently the state allows slot machines only at its two casinos run by the the Mohegan and Pequot tribes. The state struck a deal in 1994 that gives the tribes the exclusive right to run slot machines, provided that they give 25 percent of slot revenue to the state. To allow for more slot machines, the state would have to reopen that compact.
Reopening the compact for that purpose is “certainly not something that we would be excited about doing,” said Chuck Bunnell, the chief of staff for the Mohegan Tribe. He said the tribe is open to the conversation, but would be against permitting slot machines in Windsor Locks, because that would compete against a casino the tribe is trying to open in Palmer, Mass.
