Connecticut governor supports tribal casino, but not for this year

A casino resort could be coming to Bridgeport, Connecticut, just most likely not anytime soon. Connecticut’s governor, Ned Lamont, says that he supports a plan by the state’s two native Indian tribes to build the venue, but adds that he doesn’t expect legislation to be ready this year.

Prior to the Connecticut Conference on Tourism, the first-term governor was cornered by reporters who wanted to know where he stood on the subject. Coincidentally, the event was sponsored by Connecticut’s two casino resorts, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.

Lamont told the Connecticut Mirror, “We’re trying to get something done, but we’re not going to get it done in this session.” The Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes are hoping to receive approval to build a satellite casino that can compete with the MGM Springfield, an integrated resort that sits close to the Connecticut-Massachusetts border.

Later during the conference, he brought up the state’s relationship with the tribes, stating, “We’ve had a very strong bond and contract going back well over a generation. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that contract stays intact. We are working together going forward.”