Connecticut to take another look at online gambling

Connecticut law maker Rep. Stephen Dargan, co-chairman of the legislative public safety committee overseeing legalised gambling, said in an interview this week with courant.com that his committee needs to reconsider the matter of online gambling as revenues from the two tribal casinos in the State dwindle along with continued State deficits.

The issue of internet gambling was investigated back in January 2012 by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy’s administration but no further progress was made.

Malloy’s senior advisor Roy Occhiogrosso said Tuesday: “Certainly, it’s the legislature’s prerogative” to consider online gambling but it’s not something that the Governor has any intention of pushing.  It’s not something he supports and it’s not something he thinks the legislature will follow through and send him a bill on.”

The Governor, who has seemingly changed his tune, said in January 2012: “If it [online gambling] moves forward, and it’s clearly going to move forward, it’s going to be available in Connecticut. Now we have to decide, in the state of Connecticut, what is our approach to that.”

Tribal casino concerns could present an obstacle as a spokesman said at the time that legalising online gambling would interfere with the tribal compact it holds with the State while State House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey, set to become House speaker in the new session, said he would not lend his support to legislation that disrupts the compact between Connecticut and the tribes.

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