Lawmakers Vote ‘Yes’ to Move Ahead With New Connecticut Casinos

Gambling expansion in Connecticut got the thumbs-up from Connecticut lawmakers.

According to the Hartford Courant, the gambling expansion battle received a shot in the arm when two separate bills were brought up for votes in special legislative committees on Tuesday, March 19. The first bill favors a satellite casino in East Windsor that would be co-managed by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes. The tribes have already named the East Windsor property, Tribal Winds Casino.

The second bill calls for a brand new casino and hotel complex on Bridgeport's waterfront being proposed by MGM Resorts International. Both projects would bring in thousands of jobs while boosting Connecticut's economic development.

The tribes have already been crunching numbers as they jump-start their new campaign to win state legislative approval. The numbers include 2,000 construction jobs, 2,000 casino staff positions, and 1,000 indirect jobs supporting vendors. The expected tax revenue could generate as much as $75 million for the state.