HARTFORD – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is skeptical over a plan to build at least one additional casino, warning Tuesday that if the General Assembly thinks it will increase revenue, lawmakers are wrong.
Malloy, speaking with reporters after the monthly meeting of the State Bond Commission, said that since taking office in 2011, the state’s share of slot machine revenue from the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos has fallen off sharply.
“I do understand that the argument that they are making is about jobs,” Malloy said, acknowledging Tuesday’s public hearing before the Public Safety Committee on the issue. “I’ll wait and see to review that testimony and their ideas.”
He said the jobs issue is being highlighted by advocates.
“I still struggle with the issue, frankly,” said Malloy, who during last year’s election campaign said he opposed expanded gambling. “I think the issue of casinos in our state is settled. We have two casinos. I think gaming opportunities are no longer exclusive to Connecticut.”
He noted that surrounding states are also planning casinos. “This is not my proposal,” he said. “This is not in my budget.”
During the afternoon public hearing, Rep. Janice Giegler, R-Danbury, a member of the committee, said he she believes that the revenue is a negligible item, especially if a second or third satellite Indian casino is built in here district.
“Is this just a redistribution of income or are we looking to recapture what we might lose to Massachusetts?” Giegler asked.
Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequots Tribal Council, and Kevin Brown, chairman of the Mohegans. Brown and Butler stressed that while the proposed casinos – the first north of Hartford and the second and third in the Danbury and Bridgeport regions – will be smaller, without hotels or entertainment facilities, they will be tied into rewards programs at the two current casinos.